TEHRAN — Two high-ranking Russian officials who are aides to President Vladimir Putin were in Tehran on Tuesday to discuss bilateral cooperation with Iranian officials amid renewed Western worries about the growing alliance.
Igor Levitin, a senior Putin adviser, met the secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, Ali Akbar Ahmadian, and three government ministers, Iran’s ISNA news agency reported.
Levitin’s discussions revolved primarily around the progress of the International North-South Transport Corridor, a key cross-regional infrastructure project designed to enhance trade connectivity.
The 7,200-kilometer (4,500-mile) route encompasses sea, rail and road networks, with the aim of facilitating freight movement between India, Iran, Azerbaijan, Russia, Central Asia and Europe. Streamlining trade and economic cooperation, the INSTC remains a cornerstone of Iran-Russia partnership.
Iran’s media said Levitin had “briefed” the Iranian security chief on the latest from the project, while the latter reiterated Tehran’s commitment to pursue the initiative.
Earlier, Levitin sat down with Economy Minister Abdol-Nasser Hemmati, Roads Minister Farzaneh Sadeq and Labor Minister Ahmad Meydari for further discussions on different aspects of the project.
On the same day, Russia’s top security official Sergei Shoigu arrived in Tehran, where he met with President Masoud Pezeshkian. Reporting by Iranian state-run outlets indicated that Shoigu had made an attempt to allay Iran’s worries about the contentious Zangezur Corridor, which is being pushed by Moscow and seeks to link mainland Azerbaijan to its exclave, Nakhchivan.
Earlier this month, remarks by Russian officials on the project unnerved counterparts in Tehran, where Zangezur is seen as a potential geopolitical threat that could effectively and entirely cut off Iran’s land routes to Armenia proper.
“Sergei Shoigu underlined Russia’s support for Iran’s stance with regard to the regional corridors and connections to Azerbaijan,” the IRNA news agency reported in its coverage of the Russian official’s meeting with both Pezeshkian and Ahmadian.
Surenas1 on
**Inside the Iran-Russia tensions over an Azerbaijan transport corridor**
>The source illustrated this balance with an example: “Despite Moscow’s insistence, Tehran has refused to side with Russia in international organisations on issues like Abkhazia and Crimea.”
>Highlighting Tehran’s unwavering stance on the corridor, he said: “As the supreme leader has emphasised, our border with Armenia must remain intact, and any corridor should be established with that in mind… Our military power would only be deployed in response to any attempt to sever Iran’s border with Armenia.”
>“Our capabilities in the Caucasus are far-reaching. We have a historical and cultural presence in the region. This is our region,” he said.
>Iran lost control of various Caucasus territories in the early 19th century following wars with Russia, including modern-day Azerbaijan, Georgia, Dagestan, Armenia, and Igdir in Turkey. The agreements that ceded those lands continue to rankle Iranian nationalists and are commonly cited to criticise bad contracts or deals.
>Relations between Iran and Azerbaijan have often been tetchy. Baku’s friendly relationship with Israel is one particularly large elephant in the room, while both governments have accused the other of espionage and terrorism.
>Nevertheless, the Iranian foreign ministry source pointed out that for 30 years Iran has provided a route through its territory that connects Azerbaijan to Nakhchivan, which are separated from each other by Armenia (and Iran).
>“The Islamic Republic supports unblocking transit routes in the region,” the source told MEE, “with a firm emphasis on respecting the territorial integrity, sovereignty, and jurisdiction of the countries involved, while also ensuring the mutual interests of all regional nations. This aligns with Armenia’s ‘Crossroad of Peace’ initiative.
>“The comments made by the Russian foreign minister were directed at Armenian officials. This reflects the escalating tensions between Russia and Armenia,” the source said.
>“As Armenia continues to distance itself from Russia’s influence, Moscow, by raising the corridor issue, seeks to maintain its foothold in the Caucasus.”
>As an alternative to Zangezur, Iran is – according to a foreign policy expert with ties to the Iranian foreign ministry – proposing improvements to the Aras corridor, the route which connects Azerbaijan to Nakhchivan.
>“After Azerbaijan regained its occupied territories from Armenia in the 2020 war, this route was shortened. In response to the new circumstances, Iran has begun upgrading, modernising, and widening this road,“ the policy adviser said.
>“By improving the Aras corridor, Iran envisions that not only Azerbaijan but other countries will also be able to use this route. The corridor could potentially become part of a broader East-West passage, or Middle Corridor, starting in Russia and China, passing through Central Asia, the Caucasus, Iran, and Turkey, and extending to Eastern Europe and the UK.”
>**Strategic competition**
>Speaking to MEE, a reformist media commentator and foreign policy expert said that these developments are viewed in Iran as a precursor to a broader Israeli and western presence on Iran’s borders.
>The commentator argued that this would also strengthen the Turkic world, posing a threat to Iran’s identity. Moreover, cutting Iranian access to Armenian territory would ultimately block Iran’s access to Europe, a significant strategic threat.
>He argued that Russia’s interests are increasingly at odds with Iran’s.
>Russia and China’s pursuit of natural resources and financial markets in the Gulf had led them to support the UAE over Iran in the dispute over three Gulf islands. Russia is also seeking to limit Iran’s access to European oil and gas markets, which it has been removed from following the invasion of Ukraine.
>The foreign policy expert said also that its conflict with the West meant that Russia is now reliant on secure routes through the South Caucasus, with its interest in controlling Armenia’s Syunik province adding to the strategic competition with Iran.
>One Iranian conservative expert argued that the US and Nato are aiming to expand their influence in the region through Turkey and Azerbaijan (Iran’s frozen and hostile relations with the West mean cooperation in the South Caucasus is highly improbable), while Russia, in its efforts to counter Nato’s presence, is inadvertently furthering the Atlantic alliance’s objectives.
>Russia’s strained relations with Armenia, especially over the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO), have also pushed Moscow closer to Azerbaijan. In June, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan declared in parliament that “we will leave” the Kremlin’s military alliance.
>“Meanwhile, Turkey and Azerbaijan are extending their influence and promoting their ideologies, aiming to marginalise Iran from China’s corridor. Armenia seeks to preserve its territorial integrity,” the Iranian conservative expert said.
>“Iran, on the other hand, opposes Turkish moves, Nato’s expansion, and Russia’s missteps regarding the so-called Zangezur corridor. Iran’s primary goal is to prevent any shifts in the region’s geopolitical landscape. However, given its close relationship with Russia, Tehran must proceed cautiously.”
To hell with proceeding cautiously. Moscow should understand that any redrawing of Armenia’s border with Iran is nothing more than a casus belli. I say this as an Iranian. I hope they got the message.
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TEHRAN — Two high-ranking Russian officials who are aides to President Vladimir Putin were in Tehran on Tuesday to discuss bilateral cooperation with Iranian officials amid renewed Western worries about the growing alliance.
Igor Levitin, a senior Putin adviser, met the secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, Ali Akbar Ahmadian, and three government ministers, Iran’s ISNA news agency reported.
Levitin’s discussions revolved primarily around the progress of the International North-South Transport Corridor, a key cross-regional infrastructure project designed to enhance trade connectivity.
The 7,200-kilometer (4,500-mile) route encompasses sea, rail and road networks, with the aim of facilitating freight movement between India, Iran, Azerbaijan, Russia, Central Asia and Europe. Streamlining trade and economic cooperation, the INSTC remains a cornerstone of Iran-Russia partnership.
Iran’s media said Levitin had “briefed” the Iranian security chief on the latest from the project, while the latter reiterated Tehran’s commitment to pursue the initiative.
Earlier, Levitin sat down with Economy Minister Abdol-Nasser Hemmati, Roads Minister Farzaneh Sadeq and Labor Minister Ahmad Meydari for further discussions on different aspects of the project.
On the same day, Russia’s top security official Sergei Shoigu arrived in Tehran, where he met with President Masoud Pezeshkian. Reporting by Iranian state-run outlets indicated that Shoigu had made an attempt to allay Iran’s worries about the contentious Zangezur Corridor, which is being pushed by Moscow and seeks to link mainland Azerbaijan to its exclave, Nakhchivan.
Earlier this month, remarks by Russian officials on the project unnerved counterparts in Tehran, where Zangezur is seen as a potential geopolitical threat that could effectively and entirely cut off Iran’s land routes to Armenia proper.
“Sergei Shoigu underlined Russia’s support for Iran’s stance with regard to the regional corridors and connections to Azerbaijan,” the IRNA news agency reported in its coverage of the Russian official’s meeting with both Pezeshkian and Ahmadian.
**Inside the Iran-Russia tensions over an Azerbaijan transport corridor**
>The source illustrated this balance with an example: “Despite Moscow’s insistence, Tehran has refused to side with Russia in international organisations on issues like Abkhazia and Crimea.”
>Highlighting Tehran’s unwavering stance on the corridor, he said: “As the supreme leader has emphasised, our border with Armenia must remain intact, and any corridor should be established with that in mind… Our military power would only be deployed in response to any attempt to sever Iran’s border with Armenia.”
>“Our capabilities in the Caucasus are far-reaching. We have a historical and cultural presence in the region. This is our region,” he said.
>Iran lost control of various Caucasus territories in the early 19th century following wars with Russia, including modern-day Azerbaijan, Georgia, Dagestan, Armenia, and Igdir in Turkey. The agreements that ceded those lands continue to rankle Iranian nationalists and are commonly cited to criticise bad contracts or deals.
>Relations between Iran and Azerbaijan have often been tetchy. Baku’s friendly relationship with Israel is one particularly large elephant in the room, while both governments have accused the other of espionage and terrorism.
>Nevertheless, the Iranian foreign ministry source pointed out that for 30 years Iran has provided a route through its territory that connects Azerbaijan to Nakhchivan, which are separated from each other by Armenia (and Iran).
>“The Islamic Republic supports unblocking transit routes in the region,” the source told MEE, “with a firm emphasis on respecting the territorial integrity, sovereignty, and jurisdiction of the countries involved, while also ensuring the mutual interests of all regional nations. This aligns with Armenia’s ‘Crossroad of Peace’ initiative.
>“The comments made by the Russian foreign minister were directed at Armenian officials. This reflects the escalating tensions between Russia and Armenia,” the source said.
>“As Armenia continues to distance itself from Russia’s influence, Moscow, by raising the corridor issue, seeks to maintain its foothold in the Caucasus.”
>As an alternative to Zangezur, Iran is – according to a foreign policy expert with ties to the Iranian foreign ministry – proposing improvements to the Aras corridor, the route which connects Azerbaijan to Nakhchivan.
>“After Azerbaijan regained its occupied territories from Armenia in the 2020 war, this route was shortened. In response to the new circumstances, Iran has begun upgrading, modernising, and widening this road,“ the policy adviser said.
>“By improving the Aras corridor, Iran envisions that not only Azerbaijan but other countries will also be able to use this route. The corridor could potentially become part of a broader East-West passage, or Middle Corridor, starting in Russia and China, passing through Central Asia, the Caucasus, Iran, and Turkey, and extending to Eastern Europe and the UK.”
>**Strategic competition**
>Speaking to MEE, a reformist media commentator and foreign policy expert said that these developments are viewed in Iran as a precursor to a broader Israeli and western presence on Iran’s borders.
>The commentator argued that this would also strengthen the Turkic world, posing a threat to Iran’s identity. Moreover, cutting Iranian access to Armenian territory would ultimately block Iran’s access to Europe, a significant strategic threat.
>He argued that Russia’s interests are increasingly at odds with Iran’s.
>Russia and China’s pursuit of natural resources and financial markets in the Gulf had led them to support the UAE over Iran in the dispute over three Gulf islands. Russia is also seeking to limit Iran’s access to European oil and gas markets, which it has been removed from following the invasion of Ukraine.
>The foreign policy expert said also that its conflict with the West meant that Russia is now reliant on secure routes through the South Caucasus, with its interest in controlling Armenia’s Syunik province adding to the strategic competition with Iran.
>One Iranian conservative expert argued that the US and Nato are aiming to expand their influence in the region through Turkey and Azerbaijan (Iran’s frozen and hostile relations with the West mean cooperation in the South Caucasus is highly improbable), while Russia, in its efforts to counter Nato’s presence, is inadvertently furthering the Atlantic alliance’s objectives.
>Russia’s strained relations with Armenia, especially over the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO), have also pushed Moscow closer to Azerbaijan. In June, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan declared in parliament that “we will leave” the Kremlin’s military alliance.
>“Meanwhile, Turkey and Azerbaijan are extending their influence and promoting their ideologies, aiming to marginalise Iran from China’s corridor. Armenia seeks to preserve its territorial integrity,” the Iranian conservative expert said.
>“Iran, on the other hand, opposes Turkish moves, Nato’s expansion, and Russia’s missteps regarding the so-called Zangezur corridor. Iran’s primary goal is to prevent any shifts in the region’s geopolitical landscape. However, given its close relationship with Russia, Tehran must proceed cautiously.”
https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/inside-iran-russia-tensions-over-azerbaijans-zangezur-corridor
To hell with proceeding cautiously. Moscow should understand that any redrawing of Armenia’s border with Iran is nothing more than a casus belli. I say this as an Iranian. I hope they got the message.