A pawn in the game of heavyweights

Over the last few months, the political landscape in Western Asia has changed drastically. The war between Israel and Iran, which resulted in severe damage to Iran’s strategic infrastructure, has significantly diminished Tehran’s influence in the South Caucasus and opened the door for other regional powers to advance their interests.

Taking advantage of this situation, Baku—supported by its chief ally Ankara—has renewed efforts to push forward the construction of the Zangezur corridor, a traffic artery through Armenia connecting mainland Azerbaijan with its Nakhichivan exclave and, ultimately, with Turkey. The corridor plays a pivotal role for Baku and Ankara, offering both economic and strategic benefits. This renewed momentum was made possible precisely due to Iran’s weakening position on the world stage. Tehran has strongly opposed the project for a number of reasons, including the loss of its transit value, geostrategic influence in the region and its common border with Armenia.