Iran says Armenia has guaranteed TRIPP will not change borders or involve US troops

TEHRAN — Iran says Armenia has provided assurances that the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP) will not alter regional borders or geopolitical arrangements and will not involve the deployment of American military personnel.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei made the remarks during a November 9 press briefing, addressing Tehran’s concerns about the proposed transport corridor through Armenia’s southern Syunik province.

According to Baghaei, Armenian authorities have also assured Iran that construction work will be carried out by Armenian companies.

The Iranian spokesperson emphasized that Tehran supports reopening regional transport communications but opposes arrangements that could undermine internationally recognized borders or change the region’s geopolitical balance.

He reiterated concerns about expanding US involvement near Iran’s northern border, saying Tehran would continue closely monitoring developments.

TRIPP is intended to establish transportation links between Azerbaijan and its Nakhichevan exclave through Armenian territory.

An Armenia–US agreement envisages a development company with majority American ownership and long-term rights related to the construction and management of infrastructure along the route.

The Pashinyan government maintains that the project will operate under Armenian sovereignty and jurisdiction and provide economic benefits through improved regional connectivity.

Armenian opposition lawmakers, however, have questioned the extent of foreign management rights and warned about the absence of reciprocal Azerbaijani commitments to open transport routes for Armenia.

Baghaei’s remarks provide additional details about the assurances given to Tehran but do not resolve concerns surrounding the agreement’s implementation and oversight.

With Syunik occupying a strategically important position along the Armenian-Iranian border, the project’s long-term implications for Armenia’s territorial integrity and economic independence remain under close scrutiny.