Armenia and Iran have agreed to construct a second bridge across the Aaras River, deepening their infrastructure and strategic cooperation at a time of heightened geopolitical competition in the South Caucasus. The announcement comes as Tehran seeks to counter what it describes as the threat posed by the “Zangezur Corridor,” a proposed land route that emerged from a recent peace deal between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Iranian officials warn the corridor could effectively give Washington influence over southern Armenia and risk cutting Iran off from its vital connection to Armenia.
The deal was unveiled on Tuesday by Iranian Minister of Transport and Urban Development Farzaneh Sadegh, who described it as part of a larger package of agreements between Yerevan and Tehran. These include the reconstruction of the existing bridge, modernization of border terminals, and adjustments to truck tolls to facilitate cross-border trade. The project is being framed as a joint “megaproject,” financed by both sides, aimed at boosting transit capacity and advancing a strategic railway intended to link the Persian Gulf with the Black Sea.
Sadegh is in Yerevan accompanying Iranian President Massoud Pezeshkian, who arrived Monday with a large delegation of officials and business leaders. The visit underscores Iran’s push to reinforce ties with Armenia in the aftermath of the Armenia-Azerbaijan peace deal signed earlier this month, a development that Tehran fears could allow U.S. and NATO interests — and potentially security forces — to gain a foothold on Iran’s northern border.
Both Iran and Russia have voiced concern over the Zangezur Corridor, particularly its implications for the planned North-South International Transport Corridor (NSITC), designed to connect Russian and Iranian trade flows with India. Tehran views the U.S., Turkish, and Azeri influence in southern Armenia as a potential disruption to this project, which is seen as critical to its economic integration strategy.
The agreement between Yerevan and Tehran also includes the creation of a joint border security group, giving Iran a larger role in managing the frontier and strengthening cooperation with Armenia. Iranian officials believe this mechanism could mitigate some of their concerns regarding Western influence in the corridor and help secure Tehran’s northern flank.