Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev announced that the scope of the Zangezur Corridor, which will connect mainland Azerbaijan with the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, has been expanded. Aliyev said the strategic project will not be limited to road and railway connections, adding that fiber-optic cables as well as electricity and energy transmission lines will also be included along the route.
Aliyev: Our Goal Is an Uninterrupted Connection with Nakhchivan
Speaking to Azerbaijan’s state television AZTV, Ilham Aliyev said the Zangezur Corridor is a strategic project aimed at strengthening the connection between Azerbaijan and Nakhchivan, which he described as an integral part of Azerbaijan.
Aliyev noted that the declaration signed following the Second Karabakh War included a provision for establishing a connection between Azerbaijan and Nakhchivan. However, he said Armenia had failed to take concrete steps on the issue for approximately five years.
The Azerbaijani president stated that the issue was resolved at the summit held in Washington, D.C., on August 8, 2025, and that implementation of the TRIPP project had begun.
Railway Construction Accelerates
Aliyev said railway construction on the Azerbaijani section of the Zangezur Corridor is progressing rapidly and that the line is expected to reach the Armenian border next year.
Noting that infrastructure on the Armenian side has not yet been completed, Aliyev said the work is therefore being carried out in a controlled manner. He emphasized that the corridor will become an important transportation route for regional trade.
Aliyev announced that the goal is to transport at least 15 million tons of cargo annually through the Zangezur Corridor.
Corridor Expands with Energy and Digital Infrastructure
According to Aliyev’s statements, the Zangezur Corridor will not be limited to serving freight and passenger transportation.
The route is planned to include fiber-optic cables, electricity transmission lines, and, if necessary, oil and natural gas pipelines.
Aliyev said the project for an electricity transmission line extending to Nakhchivan through Armenia is already ready. He also noted that a large transformer substation is being constructed in Jabrayil, Azerbaijan.
Energy Link Stretching from Türkiye to Europe
Aliyev stated that the energy infrastructure along the Zangezur route is of strategic importance not only for Azerbaijan and Nakhchivan but also for Türkiye and Europe.
Arguing that Armenia’s Metsamor Nuclear Power Plant is old and dangerous, Aliyev said Armenia could face an energy shortage if the plant were shut down.
The Azerbaijani president said the energy line connecting Türkiye, Azerbaijan, Nakhchivan and Europe could also help maintain the sustainability of Armenia’s energy system in such a scenario.
Thus, the Zangezur Corridor is expected to evolve into a multilayered regional connectivity project combining transportation, energy and digital communications infrastructure.