Azerbaijan-Nakhchivan Corridor Can Pass through Iran: Erdogan

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has welcomed Iran’s proposal regarding the Zangezur corridor connecting Azerbaijan to Armenia, saying the corridor can pass through Iran in the event Armenia does not allow it to pass through its territory.

“We are doing our best to open the Zangezur corridor. There are also positive signals from Iran. If Armenia prevents the opening of the Zangezur corridor, it is possible for the corridor to pass through Iran,” Erdogan said on Tuesday, a day after his visit to Azerbaijan’s autonomous Nakhchivan exclave, the IRNA reported on Wednesday.

This is the first time the Turkish president has welcomed Iran’s proposal that Azerbaijan can use Iranian territory instead of Armenian soil for its trucks to reach Nakhchivan.

In recent months, Azerbaijan has tried to pass its trucks through the Zangezur corridor using the Armenian territory. The creation of this corridor, however, would destroy the common border between Iran and Armenia.

Senior Iranian officials have repeatedly stated that they are against any change in the internationally recognized borders.

They have also emphasized that Iran is ready to allow Azerbaijani trucks to pass through its territory as before, in a way that would preserve the internationally recognized borders and meet the needs of neighboring countries through good neighborliness.

Erdogan also voiced hopes that the corridor would be established with Iran’s help, describing it as a blessing for the region. - IRNA