The analyses I've come across is opposite to this one: Azerberijan started this conflict to gain back lost territory. And that lost territory used to be traditional Armenian territory.

But it's hard to get the full truth to this part of the world. Both Russian and USA like meddling in local politics. It seems strange they would be on the same side.

If there is indeed a pipeline conspiracy, there are better ways to prevent this pipeline. Pipelines are very expensive to build and very hard to defend from terrorist attacks.