Armenia and Azerbaijan have signed a US-brokered peace agreement in Washington, formally ending decades of conflict by recognizing their Soviet-era borders and pledging mutual respect for sovereignty and non-aggression. A key component of the deal is the establishment of a US-backed transit corridor, known as the Zangezur Corridor, which links Azerbaijan to its exclave Nakhchivan through Armenian territory. The agreement, mediated by former US President Donald Trump, aims to foster peace and regional connectivity. However, the corridor has drawn strong opposition from Iran, which views it as a threat to its northern border security and regional stability. Iranian officials, including Ali Akbar Velayati, a senior adviser to Iran’s supreme leader, have condemned the corridor as a NATO wedge between Iran and Russia and have warned of possible retaliation. Russia and some Armenian domestic critics have also expressed concerns about the corridor and unresolved issues, including the status of Nagorno-Karabakh. In response to regional apprehensions, Armenian and Azerbaijani leaders have sought to ease tensions with Iran and Russia. Armenia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Vagan Gostanyan stated that there will be no deployment of third-party security forces along the Iran-Armenia border and clarified that a company to be registered in Armenia with US and Armenian shares does not imply American military presence. The peace deal has been met with cautious hope and skepticism among populations and politicians in both countries. The agreement represents a landmark diplomatic effort by the United States to stabilize the South Caucasus region, though concerns remain about its long-term impact amid regional rivalries involving Iran, Russia, Turkey, and Israel.