Iran has thwarted the opening of the "Zangezur Corridor" with decisive and swift action, Ali Akbar Velayati, an advisor to the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, said in an interview with the KHAMENEI.IR website.

"If we look at historical realities, we can confidently say that since the adoption of Islam, Iran has never been as powerful, independent, and influential as it is today. One of the most striking signs of this strength was Iran's swift and decisive response to the crisis in the South Caucasus. When some countries tried to connect Nakhichevan with Azerbaijan under the pretext of creating the "Zangezur Corridor," a project that would essentially mean the dismemberment of Armenia and the blocking of the Iranian corridor to Europe, Iran vigilantly and decisively opposed this plan and thwarted its implementation," Velayati said.

He said Iran prevented this operation alone, even without Russia's help.

"This shows that Iran, even without Russian support, has maintained security in the South Caucasus region and prevented NATO penetration through smart diplomacy. Iran's skillful and strategic presence in the South Caucasus is not only a defense of national interests but also a strong barrier to external interference in the region's affairs," he added.

Velayati added that the ultimate goal of the opponents in the "Zangezur Corridor" issue was to cut off Iran from the northern direction and create a blockade ring around Russia from the south. However, this project also failed.

"Today, Iran occupies a central place in the emerging new world order," he stressed.