WANA (Jul 30) – The Arab–Mediterranean Corridor (IMEC), a strategic project designed with the participation of India, several Arab countries, and the Israeli regime, seeks to bypass Iran and diminish its role in global transit.

 

Recognized as one of the latest geopolitical initiatives in West Asia, the “Arab-Med” Corridor aims to circumvent Iran and weaken its influence over international trade routes. With the involvement of India, Arab partners, and Israel, the project is designed to undermine Tehran’s strategic position and reduce the leverage of the Strait of Hormuz.

 

At the 2024 United Nations General Assembly, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the “India–Middle East–Europe Corridor” (IMEC) as an economic and geopolitical highway beginning in India and linking to Israeli ports on the Mediterranean—particularly Haifa. The corridor encompasses transport networks, energy pipelines, and communication infrastructure, with the goal of creating a fast, direct connection between Asian and European economies through Israeli territory. Washington has been pushing this project forward with strong political backing.

Unveiling Ceremony of the IMEC Economic Corridor Project on the Sidelines of the G20 Summit in New Delhi – September 2023 / WANA News Agency

In his speech, Netanyahu portrayed Iran and the Axis of Resistance as the main obstacles to regional economic development, stressing that once IMEC becomes operational, Iran’s geopolitical role would be significantly curtailed. He also suggested that the project could weaken one of Iran’s most strategic levers: the threat of closing the Strait of Hormuz.

 

The initiative has been openly supported by the United States and several European powers, including Germany, France, and Italy. Its ultimate goal is to transform Israel into a hub of energy and technology in West Asia while diminishing Iran’s position in global transit.

 

Iran’s Supreme Leader has explicitly warned about the dangerous, extra-regional objectives of this project, describing it as one of the motives behind Israeli crimes in the region.

 

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WANA (Jan 10) – Amid the flames of military conflicts in the Middle East, a deeper and more critical battle is underway—dubbed the “Battle of Corridors.” This struggle between Iran and Israel is not just about trade routes but a fight to shape the geopolitical future of the Middle East.   IMEC: Israel’s Economic Domination […]

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According to Mehdi Bagheri, a transport and transit expert, although Hamas’s preemptive operation on October 7 (the “Al-Aqsa Flood”) and Iran’s decisive missile strike on Haifa—the heart of Israel’s maritime economy—have created major obstacles for the project, Israel’s recent moves suggest that Iran now faces two clear options: either passively watch as the plan isolates it from global trade routes, or proactively and strategically redesign its regional role.

 

Developing and upgrading alternative corridors through Iranian territory—such as the North–South Corridor and the Chabahar axis—is essential. Rebuilding transport infrastructure and easing customs policies could also attract foreign investment and enable Iran to play an active role in this field.

 

Strengthening regional alliances with like-minded states should form part of Iran’s strategy to counter IMEC and curb Israeli ambitions. Ultimately, defeating IMEC will require not only military and security measures but also a smart recalibration of Iran’s position within the global transit architecture.

 

The Arab–Med Corridor, as a U.S.-driven strategy, is aimed at excluding both Iran and Russia from the region’s trade and energy routes. Given Washington’s political limitations and its previous failure to eliminate Iran’s role in these pathways, the project could pose a serious threat to the regional balance of power.

 

Therefore, Iran must seek to balance regional and global powers, working with China, Russia, and Central Asian countries to create new trade routes that benefit both the region’s development and Iran’s interests. Otherwise, IMEC risks becoming a serious threat to Iran’s security and to the stability of the entire region.