The Tehran position is beyond doubt. Ali Akbar Welajati, in an interview with the Tasni agency, emphasized that “Iran, regardless of Russia's position, would work to protect the southern Caucasus against any threats.” In addition, he warned that if the plan to create the “Trump Trail” was implemented, this corridor would become a “tomb” for the forces that perform him.
The initiative, called the “Trump trail for international peace and prosperity” (TRIPP), assumes the creation of a transit belt running through the territory of Armenia and connecting Azerbaijan with its exclava. The disputed 32-kilometer section, which is a key element of the project, caused a special concern in Tehran, which divides the 760-kilometer border with Azerbaijan and maintains direct border relations with Armenia. Welajati added that “Russia, strategically looking, also opposes this corridor.”
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Historical compromise
In turn, Russia approached the matter more moderately. In a communiqué published on Saturday, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed satisfaction with the conclusion of an agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia in Washington, indicating that it could contribute to the regulation of tensions in the region and peace.
The historical compromise took place on Friday in the White House, where Prime Minister Armenia Nikol Paszynian and President Azerbaijan Ilham Alijew signed a peace declaration. It includes both the announcement of the full peace treaty and the consent to the implementation of TRIPP. The American administration of the former president shows that the name of the project was proposed by Armenia. Details of the document, however, remain a secret.
One of the key records of the Friday declaration is also the abolition of American restrictions on defense cooperation with Azerbaijan, in force since 1992. This decision opens the prospects of a closer strategic partnership between countries.
However, the Armenian-Azerbaijani initiative has a broader diplomatic aspect. The leaders of both countries publicly announced their support for the idea of reporting Donald Trump, involved in negotiations, for the Nobel Peace Prize.
