Iran warns Russia against Caucasus geopolitical changes amid corridor dispute
The rare warning highlighted Tehran's deep-seated worries about the Zangezur Corridor, which has put the Iran-Russia alliance to a serious test.
TEHRAN — Iran issued a warning on Tuesday to its key geopolitical backer, Russia, against any attempts to alter the geopolitical mapping in the Caucasus region. According to a report on its official website, Iran's Foreign Ministry conveyed the message to Russia's ambassador to Tehran, Alexey Dedov.
The report did not, however, describe the interaction as a summoning but rather as a "meeting," which was led by Mojtaba Damirchilou, the ministry's director of Eurasian Affairs. He underlined Tehran's robust opposition to changes in internationally recognized borders in the Caucasus.
Damirchilou emphasized in the meantime Iran's "commitment" to the principles of national sovereignty, territorial integrity and mutual interests, which he described as the "guarantors of lasting peace" in the region.
The diplomatic messaging in Tehran came a fortnight after a visit by Russian President Vladimir Putin to Baku, where he sat down with his Azerbaijani counterpart, Ilham Aliyev, to reaffirm Moscow’s engagement in the region's shifting geopolitical landscape, including the contentious Zangezur Corridor.
