No Corridor Without Armenian Control: Yerevan Sets Terms for Azerbaijani Transit Through Syunik

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has once again ruled out the possibility of allowing an extraterritorial corridor for Azerbaijan through Armenian territory. Speaking at the Second Global Armenian Summit, Pashinyan insisted that Armenia must retain full control over any road or railway connecting Azerbaijan to Nakhijevan, stressing the importance of preserving Armenian sovereignty and territorial integrity.

This issue has become a focal point in the tense relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan, with Azerbaijan accusing Armenia of not fulfilling a key provision of the Russian-brokered ceasefire agreement that ended the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war. According to Azerbaijan, the agreement requires Armenia to guarantee the security of transport links between Azerbaijan and Nakhijevan, which would pass through Armenia's southern Syunik province.

Pashinyan stated that Armenia is ready to open transport links for Azerbaijan, but only under conditions similar to those provided by Iran, which has been the primary transit route for Azerbaijan-Nakhijevan traffic for more than three decades. Iran currently allows Azerbaijan to use its territory for transportation between the mainland and Nakhijevan. Last year, Azerbaijan and Iran even began construction on a new transit road bypassing Armenia.

Pashinyan made it clear that Armenia would offer similar terms for the passage of goods and people, without compromising the country’s sovereignty. “We are ready to provide passage to Azerbaijan under the same conditions as Iran,” Pashinyan said. “Moreover, we do not rule out certain simplifications of [border] procedures.” However, he emphasized that this must be done within the framework of Armenia's territorial integrity and jurisdiction.

Azerbaijan has repeatedly pushed for an extraterritorial “Zangezur corridor” through Syunik, exempt from Armenian border controls, a demand that Armenia has flatly rejected. Pashinyan's foreign minister, Ararat Mirzoyan, clarified that while Armenia is open to allowing additional security along these transport routes, any foreign presence would be limited to escorting passengers or cargo. Armenian border and customs officers would still maintain control over the passage.

Baku has expressed dissatisfaction with this arrangement, insisting that traffic through the corridor should not be subject to Armenian checks. In response to Armenia's stance, an Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry spokesman warned that Azerbaijan might continue using Iranian territory for transport to Nakhijevan if Yerevan remains opposed to the corridor.

Iran, which borders both Armenia and Azerbaijan, plays a crucial role in this ongoing dispute. Tehran has strongly opposed the creation of any extraterritorial corridor through Armenia, fearing it would sever its land connection with Armenia and strengthen Azerbaijan’s influence in the region. Iran’s opposition to the so-called “Zangezur corridor” is in line with its broader regional interests, as it seeks to maintain a stable relationship with Armenia and balance its complex relations with Azerbaijan.

Iranian officials have supported Armenia’s stance on the corridor and have been actively developing alternative transit routes to ensure Azerbaijan’s access to Nakhijevan. In October 2022, Iranian and Azerbaijani officials broke ground on a new road that bypasses Armenian territory, further reducing Baku’s reliance on Armenia for transit.

Pashinyan also addressed broader issues related to the ongoing peace process between Armenia and Azerbaijan. He acknowledged that Armenia and Azerbaijan have signed their first document at the interstate level, a step in the regulation of border delimitation. This process has been fraught with tensions, particularly along Armenia’s northern Tavush province, where Azerbaijan now occupies more Armenian territories.

Pashinyan expressed frustration with Azerbaijan’s reluctance to sign a partial peace treaty, as Baku insists that all articles of the agreement must be settled before any document is finalized. “We say to Azerbaijan, ‘Let’s sign what has been agreed upon, and move on to the rest,’” Pashinyan explained, noting that Azerbaijan’s demand for a comprehensive treaty has delayed progress.