The TRIPP planned for the territory of RA can serve only Azerbaijan and Turkey

While Yerevan seeks to normalize relations with Turkey and Azerbaijan and supports the US-led transport corridor, Pashinyan is working to reassure Iran that it does not threaten its own interests. Al-Monitor wrote.

As mentioned, Pashinyan was among the few leaders who participated in the funeral of the assassinated supreme leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in Tehran this week. Until recently, this step would have been considered completely normal. Along with Russia, Iran was one of Armenia’s main, albeit difficult, allies. Today, Armenia is actively seeking to get out of the Kremlin’s orbit and establish strategic ties with the United States and the European Union, while seeking to establish lasting peace with its historical enemies, Turkey and Azerbaijan.

Against the backdrop of ongoing hostilities between the United States and Iran, Pashinyan’s visit may seem controversial. But the trip, which followed another visit to Yekaterinburg on July 6, where he met with Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, underscores the precarious balance Pashinyan must strike to keep his small, landlocked country out of further trouble.

Inspired by its unexpected resilience in the face of US and Israeli attacks, Iran is showing greater confidence, particularly towards Armenia, with which it shares a 44-kilometer (27-mile) border.

The small strip is important for Iran’s access to the Black Sea and gives the Islamic Republic leverage over its other northern neighbor and close ally of Israel, Azerbaijan.

One of the most pressing issues in relations with Iran is the “Trump Route” or TRIPP for Iran. Tehran fears that the real purpose of the corridor is to physically cut it off from Armenia and Georgia and give US security contractors meant to protect the route some sort of launching pad in the event of a future conflict.

It is not surprising that the Iranian ambassador to RA raised the topic of TRIPP during the press conference. Recalling the US night strikes on Iran, the ambassador said. “Iran’s very legitimate and logical concern about the presence of Americans near its borders should receive a clear answer.”

Analysts who talked to Al-Monitor consider that Armenian diplomacy “has a huge mountain to overcome”. It should try to communicate with Iranians, understand their grievances and also their red lines. They should explain that this project is not against Iran and that Iran can also benefit from the opening of new communication channels.

This would require guarantees that Iran could continue to access the Black Sea, including through rail links, and receive some part of the project. This is hard to imagine, because the company founded to implement the program is 74% owned by the United States, and the remaining 26% by Armenia.

The real challenge facing Armenia is not the threat of immediate Iranian intervention, an unlikely scenario given how isolated Iran is. Rather, it is the risk that Turkey will not reopen its land border with Armenia in the near future.

Armenia can stay with the corridor, which mainly serves Turkey and Azerbaijan. Faced with such uncertainties, Pashinyan must maintain relations with Tehran and Russia, even as he seeks to loosen the latter’s economic and military control.

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