Russian Ambassador: Tehran`s loss of trust in Washington could have  consequences for U.S. participation in transportation project on  Iran`s northern borders

ArmInfo.  It's clear that, given Tehran's loss of trust in Washington, American participation in the transportation project on Iran's northern borders will be viewed  through the prism of potential security risks for the Iranian state.  This was stated by Russian Ambassador to Armenia Sergey Kopyrkin in  an interview with Iravunk, regarding the prospects of opening a  transportation corridor in southern Armenia with Washington's  participation.

The diplomat acknowledged that the significant progress in achieving  peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan is positively impacting the  situation in the South Caucasus region, particularly in terms of  unblocking transportation routes. However, according to him, the  waves of the Middle East crisis, caused by the escalation of tensions  around Iran, which was attacked by the US and Israel, are reaching  the Transcaucasus.

"The tense situation around one of the key waterways for the global  economy - the Strait of Hormuz - is currently on everyone's lips.

Obviously, the surge in global prices for fuel, fertilizer, and food  cannot help but affect the countries of the South Caucasus. In this  regard, the Armenian leadership has already noted in the media that  the deadlines for the Trump Road project are being pushed back. It is  clear that, given Tehran's loss of trust in Washington, which was  preparing military strikes under the guise of negotiations, American  participation in the transportation project on Iran's northern  borders will be perceived through the prism of possible risks to the  security of the Iranian state," the diplomat said. He also recalled  that aspects of the situation surrounding the road through Meghri  were discussed in detail in an interview with Russian Deputy Prime  Minister Alexey Overchuk to the TASS news agency on April 2 of this  year, where he noted, in particular, that this route could open up  the possibility of improving transport connectivity between Russia  and Armenia.

When asked to discuss the key priorities for the development of  Armenian-Russian relations, Kopyrkin recalled that bilateral  relations are multifaceted and comprehensive, based on a solid legal  framework accumulated over 34 years. The diplomat added that the list  of areas is quite broad - from politics, security, and economics to  energy, culture, science, tourism, and more.

"At the same time, it's clear that our countries, regional realities,  and the global situation are changing. All of this requires adapting  our maturing interstate cooperation. We are committed to moving  forward based on the positive, accumulated potential. Powerful  unifying factors such as shared history, geography, economic  affinity, people-to-people contacts, and the role of the diaspora  remain. We have everything we need to develop new cooperation  parameters and algorithms based on a pragmatic alignment of  interests.  The main thing is to demonstrate political will and  maintain a focus on results. We have such a commitment," the Russian  ambassador concluded.

On January 14, the Armenian Foreign Ministry published the framework  document signed with the American side in Washington for the  implementation of the Trump Route for International Peace and  Prosperity (TRIPP). The 12-page document outlines the project's main  goals and operating mechanisms.

Among other things, the document emphasizes Armenia's intention to  sanction and support the creation of the TRIPP Development Company.  The company is expected to be responsible for developing the TRIPP  project, receiving an initial development right for a period of 49  years. Armenia intends to offer the United States a 74% stake in  TRIPP Development Company, retaining 26%. This partnership is  expected to be extended for another 50 years, with an additional  ownership stake granted to the Armenian government, bringing its  stake to 49%.

As a reminder, on August 8, 2025, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol  Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev signed a seven-point  joint "Declaration of Peace" in Washington. It provides for a joint  appeal to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe  (OSCE) to terminate the OSCE Minsk Process and related structures, as  well as the creation of a transport corridor through Armenian  territory that will connect Azerbaijan with its Nakhichevan exclave,  surrounded by Armenia, Turkey, and Iran.