Senior Iranian diplomat Ali Akbar Velayati’s repeated warnings against the opening of the Zangazur Corridor and its association with what he describes as a Trump plan for the Caucasus reveal more about Iran’s strategic anxieties than about the actual mechanics or intent of the corridor itself. His remarks to the Armenian ambassador, framed as a defence of regional security, sit uneasily alongside Armenia’s own readiness to cooperate with Washington and Azerbaijan on opening the route under the (Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity) or literally Transport and Regional Infrastructure Peace Platform proposal. This disconnect exposes a widening gap between Iran’s threat perception and the evolving interests of its northern neighbours.