Israeli think tank: For Iran, Armenia occupies a uniquely sensitive position

Published: 2025-12-25 06:18

"A working visit to Israel by Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister Vahan Kostanyan on November 27 triggered a sharp reaction in Iran. Particular concern was caused by the fact that Israeli media placed special emphasis on the topic of the ‘Trump Corridor,’ or, as it is called in Azerbaijan, the Zangezur Corridor, which would create a route from Central Asia to Europe bypassing Iran and Russia. Armenian officials have now been forced to justify themselves, demonstrating a still-persistent vassal loyalty," writes the Israeli think tank Begin–Sadat Center for Strategic Studies (BESA).

"For Iran, Armenia occupies a uniquely sensitive position, as it is considered a vital geopolitical asset. It is Iran’s only direct land bridge to the Eurasian Economic Union and—critically—a buffer preventing the emergence of a continuous Turkic corridor linking Azerbaijan to Nakhichevan and onward to Turkey. Any Armenian realignment that weakens Tehran’s influence in the region therefore triggers alarm far beyond routine diplomacy. Even the slightest sign of Israeli involvement inflames Iranian fears of an isolation scenario—Turkic countries to the north and east, Israelis and Arab states to the south," the think tank emphasizes.

"Iran’s fear is not about a single diplomatic visit. It is about losing strategic depth in the South Caucasus. Any Armenian move toward Israel or the West, however symbolic, is interpreted in Tehran through the lens of regime security and encirclement. The TRIPP/Zangezur Corridor remains the focal point of this anxiety, and until that issue is definitively resolved, Iran will continue to pressure Armenia to remain firmly within Tehran’s geopolitical comfort zone—even as Armenia quietly searches for alternatives," the BESA Center adds.

By Azerbaijani-Israeli Alliance Global News