The leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan brushed off any threat of backlash from neighboring powers Iran and Russia following a U.S.-brokered peace accord — an agreement hailed as the start of a new era, ending more than three decades of war and hostility in the South Caucasus,
Fox News Digital reports.
In exclusive Fox News Digital interviews, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev both praised President Donald Trump and his envoy for their role in brokering the framework agreement. They emphasized that the deal, which promised increased regional economic integration and political cooperation, is not directed at any third party — and may actually provide strategic advantages to Moscow and Tehran.
"This is not a zero-sum game," Pashinyan said. The agreement "contains quite tangible benefits for Iran and for Russia as well."
"Iran would have access through railway from the Persian Gulf to the Black Sea and Russia and Iran will have opportunity to have a railway connection between the two countries."
Russia — a long-standing ally of Armenia and a presence in the region through its border guards — welcomed peace but sent a warning about U.S. involvement. Its foreign ministry described the accord as "positive," expressing hope for stability in the Caucasus, but warned that foreign involvement should complement, not complicate, the peace process.
The ministry emphasized that regional solutions should include neighbors like Russia, Iran and Turkey, and cautioned against repeating the pitfalls of Western-led interventions in the Middle East.
Aliyev echoed Pashinyan’s remarks and declined to see U.S. diplomatic involvement as a provocation toward Moscow.
"It will be very difficult for any country — whether far away or in our region — to say something bad about today’s agreement," he told Fox News Digital. "We’ve taken the final step toward peace."
He added: "It’s not against anyone. It’s a connectivity project which will be one of the most important parts of international transportation."
At the heart of the pact is the planned Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP) — a roughly 27-mile transit route linking mainland Azerbaijan with its Nakhchivan exclave, passing through Armenian territory. Armenia has granted the U.S. exclusive development rights via a 99‑year lease, allowing for infrastructure projects such as roads, rail lines, pipelines, fiber optics and possibly power transmission, aimed at opening new trade and transit paths in the region.
This bold move shifts regional dynamics, offering Washington a powerful strategic foothold while bypassing traditional Russian and Iranian routes.
