DUBAI/MOSCOW – Iran has warned it will block a planned transport corridor between Azerbaijan and Turkey that passes through southern Armenia, part of a U.S.-brokered peace deal.
The move could disrupt the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP), a project designed to boost energy exports, trade, and regional connectivity in the South Caucasus.
Announced by U.S. President Donald Trump, TRIPP would connect Azerbaijan to its Nakhchivan exclave and onward to Turkey. The United States would hold exclusive development rights. Washington calls it a strategic link for regional stability and economic growth. Iran borders the route and opposes “geopolitical changes” near its frontier.
Ali Akbar Velayati, a senior adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader, cited recent military exercises as proof of readiness to act.
TRIPP is tied to peace talks between Armenia and Azerbaijan after the 2023 Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. A final deal depends on Armenia amending its constitution to drop territorial claims.
Key details, including customs, security, and reciprocal access, remain unresolved. Russia supports peace but favors regional mediation over Western-led efforts.– Reuters