Top Iranian Official Vows to Block U.S.-Backed Caucasus Corridor

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – A top advisor to Iran's Supreme Leader has issued a stark and uncompromising threat against a U.S.-backed peace deal in the Caucasus, declaring that Tehran will block the creation of a proposed transit corridor “with or without Russia” and that the passage will become a “graveyard for Trump’s mercenaries.”

In a wide-ranging and exclusive interview with the IRGC-affiliated Tasnim News Agency, the official also vehemently rejected any possibility of disarming Hezbollah in Lebanon or the Hashd al-Sha’abi in Iraq, framing these initiatives as "American and Zionist conspiracies" destined to fail.

Ali Akbar Velayati, Advisor to the Supreme Leader on International Affairs, responded directly to the recent agreement involving Donald Trump, the head of the U.S. administration, which includes the establishment of a transit route, sometimes referred to as the Zangezur corridor.

The proposal reportedly includes a 99-year lease arrangement. "Does Trump think the South Caucasus is an ownerless region that he can lease?" Velayati asked, according to the Tasnim report published on Saturday. "The Caucasus is one of the most sensitive geographical points in the world, and this passage will not become a corridor owned by Trump, but a graveyard for Trump's mercenaries."

Velayati characterized the idea of leasing a corridor as a "naive statement," asserting that "Trump is feigning naivety."

He drew a parallel to emphasize the absurdity of the claim from his perspective, stating, "This claim by Trump, leasing a corridor on this side of the world, is like someone from here going and leasing the Panama Canal for themselves! This is an impossible statement and will not happen." He added, with dismissive language, "Trump thinks he is a real estate agency and wants to lease a territory or a region!"

According to the Tasnim report, Velayati elaborated on the reasons for Iran’s consistent and firm opposition to the corridor, stressing that it fundamentally alters the region's geopolitical landscape, shifts established borders, and is specifically designed to lead to the partitioning of Armenia. He pointed to Iran's past actions as evidence of its seriousness on the matter.

"When Türkiye and the Republic of Azerbaijan insisted on their demand to build this corridor, the armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran, under the command of Martyr Lieutenant General Bagheri (the then-Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces), conducted numerous military exercises in northwestern Iran, demonstrating our country's readiness and seriousness in preventing this action," he said.

He further argued that the plan is met with firm opposition from the Armenian people, stating that no nation would agree to have its land partitioned, "even if their government, unfortunately, adopts unstable positions." Velayati noted that Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, during a previous visit to Iran, had stressed his agreement with Iran's opposition to the corridor.

The advisor to the Supreme Leader emphasized that the implementation of this "conspiracy" endangers the security of the South Caucasus and would restrict Iran's communication routes in the north and northwest.

"On this basis, Iran has emphasized that it will act for the security of the South Caucasus, whether with Russia or without Russia," Velayati affirmed, though he added, "And of course, we believe that Russia is also strategically opposed to this corridor."

He also addressed the justification that the corridor is for energy transfer, stating that the Caspian Sea is exclusive to its neighboring countries and any transit of oil and gas requires the agreement of all.

He pointed to a recent joint Iran-Russia military exercise in the Caspian as a clear message that "if anyone from outside this region takes action, we will stand against them." He concluded that the corridor is not merely a trade route but a "political conspiracy against Iran and some neighboring countries," designed to allow NATO to "place itself like a viper between Iran and Russia."

He drew a comparison to the situation in Ukraine, stating, "Putin repeatedly said about Ukraine that if Ukraine joined NATO and got close to Moscow, he would act; we too will not allow NATO to approach Iran's northern borders, and in this regard, we believe that prevention is better than cure!"

In another part of the extensive interview with Tasnim, Velayati addressed recent developments in Lebanon, specifically the political decision by a part of that country's government to disarm Hezbollah, which he described as "being guided by the U.S. and the Zionist regime." 

"This is not the first time that some in Lebanon have raised such issues," he said. "But just as these anti-Lebanese plans did not succeed before, they will not reach their destination this time either, and the resistance will stand firm against these conspiracies."

He argued that Hezbollah is now much stronger than in the past, with greater popular support and far greater capabilities. He described the resistance as representing the "dignity of Lebanon," with its existence being essential for the country's life and security.

He stated that the resistance is accepted by all Lebanese communities, including Christians, Shiites, and Sunnis. He referenced the 1982 Israeli advance into Beirut, which he said was ultimately repelled by Hezbollah. He dismissed the idea that the assassination of "great figures like Martyr Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah" had weakened the organization, claiming that its core remains "very powerful."

Velayati drew a direct parallel between the situations in Lebanon and Iraq, addressing what he termed "similar conspiracies" by the U.S. against Iraq's Hashd al-Sha'abi, or Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF). He recounted a recent phone call with former Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, whom he described as a "courageous man." 

"In our recent phone call, he emphasized that after Lebanon, America and Israel want to go after Iraq's Hashd al-Sha'abi," Velayati stated. "But Mr. Maliki and I both stressed that Iran and Iraq will both oppose the disarmament, whether of Lebanon's Hezbollah or Iraq's Hashd al-Sha'abi, and will stand against it." He made the case that the PMF's role in Iraq is analogous to Hezbollah's in Lebanon, asserting, "If there is no Hashd al-Sha'abi, the Americans will swallow Iraq."

The advisor to the Supreme Leader also commented on the broader regional "Axis of Resistance." He described Yemen as "a jewel within the Axis of Resistance that God has sent to help the resistance," praising the Yemenis for controlling the Bab-el-Mandeb strait and targeting American and Israeli interests. He concluded the interview with a defiant and confident message, stating that despite enemy propaganda, the resistance is "more coherent and powerful than ever and will prevent American and Zionist plans."

"Iran is the heart of the Axis of Resistance and supports the resistance with frankness and courage," he concluded, "and soon everyone will see that despite all the conspiracies, the future of the region belongs to the people of the region and the resistance."