The Zangezur Corridor hinders strategic relations between Iran and Russia.
The Zangezur Corridor has become a topic of discussion once again regarding Russia’s approach to the Islamic Republic of Iran, following recent statements by senior Russian officials after Vladimir Putin’s visit to Baku about the communication route in the South Caucasus region. The issue began after Ukraine’s attack on Russian territory, the occupation of some of its cities, and changes in the battlefield conditions. Vladimir Putin, the President of Russia, made a two-day trip to Azerbaijan for the first time since the start of the war with Ukraine to explore ways to expand strategic cooperation and alliances between Azerbaijan and Russia. During this trip, in addition to some other agreements, Putin also raised discussions about the Zangezur Corridor. Shortly after this trip, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov announced that Moscow supports the swift conclusion of a peace treaty between Baku and Yerevan and the removal of obstacles in the communication route.
Although after taking a position that openly threatened Iran’s national interests, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran summoned the Russian ambassador in Tehran and conveyed the Islamic Republic’s objection to this so-called strategic partner. However, the Russians not only did not back down from this decision but only emphasized that Moscow is concerned about Tehran’s concerns and reiterated that Moscow’s position on the Zangazur Corridor is completely definitive. They only intend to contact Iran for clarification. In other words, informing Iran of this decision that has been made and Iranian authorities have no choice but to accept.
Such a position by Moscow comes at a time when the final text of the comprehensive document of strategic cooperation between the two countries is ready to be signed, and the two countries are in the process of finalizing it. However, it seems that Russia’s understanding of strategic relations differs from Iran’s understanding of such relations. The authorities of this country do not recognize any limitation or red line other than their national interests and security. According to scientific texts, strategic relations require the existence or observance of certain requirements and components. The necessity of having interests and strategic goals in overlapping areas, the presence of a rival enemy or common threat, agreement on the international system and the rules of behavior within it, and the presence of political will in the leaders are some of these components.
However, it seems that Russia has undermined these strategic cooperation elements by supporting the opening of the Zangezur corridor. Initially, the opening of the Zangezur corridor is completely against the interests of the Islamic Republic of Iran. However, currently, it is in Russia’s favor as the strategic relationship between Iran and Europe will be cut off with the opening of this corridor. Iran will not have control over this path and will naturally lose the right to transit goods. On the other hand, the establishment of the Zangezur corridor reduces Iran’s neighboring countries from 15 to 14, impacting Iran’s strategic interests and geopolitical importance in the region. Nevertheless, this communication route helps Moscow bypass sanctions imposed by Europe during the period of Russian sanctions. Additionally, the developments in Ukraine have changed Russia’s position in the South Caucasus, and Moscow’s supporters are expanding their influence in Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Armenia through the Zangezur corridor. Therefore, the strategic interests and goals of Iran and Russia in this regard not only differ but also conflict.
The presence of a rival enemy or a common threat is one of the factors in strategic relationships. Although in recent years, Russia and Iran have been hostile towards Western countries, with the emergence of the new president in Iran and his positions on managing tensions with the West, Russian authorities have concluded that they need to take action before any move by Iran to destabilize new fronts and show Tehran that they can change all regional equations to Iran’s detriment with just one meeting and a few contacts. Russia’s insistence on creating a corridor in fact is a gift that Putin gives to Iran’s regional rivals, Turkey and the Republic of Azerbaijan, as Turkey can transport its goods to Azerbaijan through the corridor and reach Central Asia via the Caspian Sea, while Azerbaijan finds a direct route towards European countries.
Having an understanding of the international system and the rules of engagement within it is another component of strategic partners. Although both Iran and Russia have a revisionist approach towards Western rules of the international system and seek recognition of their roles in the international system, Russia’s revisionism is within the system, while Iran’s revisionism is against the system.
Russia, as a country aspiring to be recognized as a major power, has never shied away from managing global crises and issues. In this regard, whenever necessary, it has aligned with Western countries and supported international multilateral sanctions against Iran. Now, as Western countries, under NATO, support Ukraine, Russia, while benefiting from Iran’s assistance, has not put all its eggs in one basket and is playing various cards using its power components to manage the crisis in Ukraine, some of which, like the Zangazor move, are entirely detrimental to Iran.
Regarding the existence of political will in leaders, it also seems that due to the difference in power levels between Iran and Russia, the Kremlin does not have the will to elevate its relations with Tehran to the level of strategic relations and prefers to view its relationship with Iran based on interests. In fact, Russia sees itself as a major power on a global scale and believes it can play its cards with regional players like Iran at any time according to its interests and change regional equations according to its own desires. Unfortunately, the numerous problems and imbalances that the Islamic Republic of Iran has had in its foreign policy in recent years have provided Russia with the opportunity to exploit this situation.
Based on this, it seems that the relationship between Iran and Russia is not of a strategic cooperation nature, but rather more of a forced or cautious cooperation to deal with temporary crises, and it only contains elements of strategic relations. This bitter reality could have dangerous implications for foreign policy as having multiple strategic allies is an important condition for successful interaction of countries in the international arena and ensuring national interests and security. Therefore, measures should be taken to move Russia out of this level of relationship at the moment and make it committed to creating a kind of stable and strategic relationship with Iran. In order to achieve this goal and elevate relations with Russia to a strategic level, Iran must reach a level of power in the region that Russia sees negotiating and understanding with the Islamic Republic as inevitable to enter regional issues and play a role in West Asia, thereby gaining credibility and international status. Undoubtedly, establishing a balance in foreign policy and utilizing various options to advance its goals and interests will be a positive and effective step in this regard for Iran.
