Ali Akbar Velayati, senior advisor to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has acknowledged that Iran’s previous military exercises near its northwestern borders were deliberately aimed at countering the proposed “Zangezur Corridor” initiative.

Speaking to local media, Velayati said the drills served as a clear message of deterrence. “Those military exercises were not coincidental. They were a strategic move to signal Iran’s opposition to the so-called Zangezur Corridor project,” he stated.

The proposed corridor, which envisions connecting Azerbaijan to its exclave Nakhchivan through Armenia’s southern Syunik province, has raised alarm in Tehran. Iranian officials have repeatedly warned that any alteration of regional borders or transit routes without their involvement would be unacceptable.

Velayati underlined that Iran has adopted a policy of “active prevention” rather than a passive or reactive approach. “This is a matter of national security for us. The Islamic Republic of Iran does not sit idly when its borders and regional influence are at stake. Our strategic doctrine is based on active engagement to prevent undesirable developments,” he added.

Velayati’s remarks come amid renewed tensions over regional transport projects, as both geopolitical competition and infrastructure initiatives reshape the post-conflict landscape of the South Caucasus.

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