Faithful to an atmosphere of friendship and mutual trust, Armenia has taken Iran’s vital interests into account in the TRIPP project, Armenian Ambassador to Iran Grigor Hakobyan told the Iranian Tasnim News Agency.
The Armenian embassy published the transcript of the interview.
The Ambassador rejected the interviewer’s description of TRIPP as a “corridor”.
“First of all, allow me to address the term ‘corridor’ used in your question. The declaration signed in Washington on August 8, 2025, by the leaders of Armenia, Azerbaijan, and the United States clearly stipulates that unobstructed communication between the main territory of Azerbaijan and Nakhchivan through Armenian territory will be ensured within the framework of the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP) project. Thus, the official name of the route passing through southern Armenia is TRIPP, and any other designation, including ‘corridor,’ contradicts both the letter and the spirit of the declaration signed by the Prime Minister of Armenia, the President of Azerbaijan, and the President of the United States,” the Armenian ambassador said.
He also urged the Iranian expert and media community to adhere to this clear wording.
The ambassador emphasized that the Washington declaration provides for the unblocking of all transport communications, intra-state, bilateral, and international, based on the principles of the countries’ sovereignty, territorial integrity, and jurisdiction.
“I must emphasize that, remaining faithful to the spirit of friendship and mutual trust, official Yerevan has taken Tehran’s vital interests into account throughout this entire process, while engaging in active dialogue on developments at various levels. I should also note that these very principles have always been fundamental for both the Republic of Armenia and the Islamic Republic of Iran, and upholding them is fully consistent with the interests of our two states,” emphasized the Armenian ambassador.
According to him, as a result of the unblocking, Armenia will have a railway connection with the Islamic Republic of Iran through the territory of Nakhchivan, creating an unprecedented opportunity for Iran to establish a direct railway link with Georgia and connect to the Black Sea ports. In turn, Iran will become a transit railway route for Armenia, facilitating connections with Central Asia and the countries of the Far East. The ambassador also noted that additional links are planned between different regions of Armenia, which will be of great importance for the country’s internal economic and logistical systems.
“It is also important to note that under the TRIPP project, Armenia and the United States have equal veto rights regarding the involvement of any third party, meaning that no party can participate in the program without the consent of both Yerevan and Washington. Currently, the general conditions for implementing the TRIPP project are being actively discussed with Washington. It is planned that a joint Armenian-American TRIPP Company will be registered in Armenia, which will obtain the rights to develop the necessary infrastructure for railways, roads, oil and gas pipelines, as well as fiber-optic cables. It is anticipated that next year we will move to the practical implementation and construction phase of the program,” the ambassador elaborated.
Ambassador Hakobyan stated that TRIPP is fully consistent with the Armenian government’s Crossroads of Peace initiative and will contribute to creating regional interconnectivity, becoming an important factor for sustainable peace.
“I am pleased to note that the political agreements on the gradual opening of communications are already yielding tangible results. In October, Azerbaijan announced the removal of restrictions on the transit of goods to Armenia through its territory, and we already have the first practical examples: grain has been transported from Kazakhstan to Armenia via Azerbaijan and Georgia by rail. Armenia has also repeatedly confirmed its readiness—both politically and technically—to ensure the transit of goods between Türkiye and Azerbaijan through its territory. Thus, we can state that the TRIPP project offers Armenia, Azerbaijan, and the entire region a new model of communication, reinforced by international support, based on the principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity, reciprocity, and jurisdiction,” Ambassador Hakobyan said.
He expressed confidence that the implementation of the project will not only promote economic cooperation but also strengthen peace and stability throughout the region.
Elsewhere during the interview, the Ambassador said that Armenia highly values Iran’s support toward institutionalizing the newly established peace with Azerbaijan.
The Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP) is a connectivity project in Armenia, envisaged under the U.S.-brokered Armenian-Azerbaijani joint declaration signed in Washington, D.C. The project is expected to unlock strategic economic opportunities, create long-term benefits by promoting infrastructure investment, and enhance regional connectivity. TRIPP is part of the Crossroads of Peace project, and an Armenian-American joint enterprise is expected to develop the route.
