A BBC investigation into the US President Donald Trump’s proposed “Route for International Peace and Prosperity” — or Tripp — has revealed a mix of rusting Soviet-era railways, Russian border guards, and Iranian trucks along the intended path through southern Armenia.
The route, part of a US-brokered peace plan between Armenia and Azerbaijan, envisions a 43-kilometre transport corridor linking Azerbaijan to its Nakhchivan exclave via Armenia’s Syunik province, along the Iranian border. It aims to bring “economic prosperity” and end decades of conflict between the two nations.
However, the BBC’s report from Syunik paints a starkly different picture. The site currently consists of an abandoned railway, crumbling stations, and Soviet relics — far from the modern infrastructure promised in the peace agreement.
Despite Armenia’s rejection of Azerbaijan’s demand for a “Zangezur corridor,” Trump’s 2025 intervention at the White House, hosting both leaders, led to the signing of a symbolic accord. The agreement promises “unimpeded connectivity” for Azerbaijan while maintaining Armenia’s sovereignty, to be managed by a private US firm.
But the plan faces steep political challenges. Russian border troops continue to patrol the Armenia-Iran boundary, even after Moscow’s proposal to oversee the corridor was rejected. Iranian construction firms are already active in the area, building bridges along the proposed route. Tehran has expressed unease, with some officials threatening resistance, though Armenia insists the project poses no threat to Iran’s interests.
The region is now a focal point for global power competition. France has increased its military support to Armenia, the EU has deployed monitors, and Turkey has signaled interest in the corridor for regional trade.
While a formal peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan remains pending, observers note that no major clashes have occurred since Trump’s intervention — a rare period of calm in a region long scarred by conflict.
Keywords: Trump peace route, Armenia Azerbaijan corridor, Syunik region, Zangezur corridor, Russia Iran Armenia relations, BBC investigation, South Caucasus geopolitics
