Ilham Aliyev

Washington D.C. – A US-brokered peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan was signed today, August 9th, 2025, in Washington D.C., marking a potential turning point after nearly four decades of conflict.The agreement, initialed by Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in the presence of US President Donald Trump, aims too formally end hostilities and establish lasting peace between the two nations.

The treaty’s implementation,though,faces immediate challenges.A key component – a proposed transport corridor through the Caucasus region – has drawn opposition from Iran, which expressed concerns about potential foreign influence near its borders.Iranian Foreign Ministry officials stated they would actively prevent any developments perceived as a threat to regional security, specifically citing the potential for the corridor to be used for activities detrimental to Iranian interests. The exact route of the corridor remains undisclosed, but reports suggest it would connect Azerbaijan with its exclave of Nakhchivan, possibly traversing Armenian territory.

Regional and international reactions have been largely positive. Russia, represented by Foreign Minister Sergey lavrov, welcomed the agreement as a positive step towards stability in the South Caucasus. Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze echoed this sentiment, predicting a new era of economic growth and cooperation. Georgia, a key transit country in the region, stands to benefit from increased trade and connectivity.

The European Union and the United Nations have also lauded the treaty. EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, released a statement outlining the treaty’s foundation in mutual recognition of sovereignty, territorial integrity, and inviolability of borders, referencing the 1991 Alma-Ata Declaration. The EU has pledged €100 million in financial assistance to support the implementation of the peace agreement, focusing on demining efforts and economic progress projects in both countries.

The agreement follows Azerbaijan’s accomplished military campaign in September 2023, which resulted in the full recapture of the Nagorno-Karabakh region, a territory internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan but with a majority Armenian population until recently. Prior to the signing,bilateral negotiations on the treaty text where finalized in March 2025,with mediation efforts led by the United States. The conflict’s roots trace back to the late Soviet era, escalating into a full-scale war in the early 1990s, resulting in an estimated 30,000 deaths and the displacement of over a million people. The current agreement represents the most significant attempt to resolve the conflict as the 1994 ceasefire.

Video editor • Lucy Davalou