Iran and the New Geopolitical Situation in the South Caucasus

Abstract

After the Second Karabakh War, a new geopolitical situation has developed in the South Caucasus. The serious strengthening of the positions of Azerbaijan and its ally Turkey in the region is beginning to worry neighboring countries, first of all Iran. The authorities of the Islamic Republic see this as a threat to the stability of the country, primarily in the Northeast, where ethnic Azerbaijanis live. In addition, Iran is concerned about the close ties, especially in the military sphere, between Azerbaijan and Israel. In the autumn of 2021, there was a serious aggravation in the relations between neighboring countries. Although the crisis was overcome by the efforts of diplomats, it cannot be ruled out that relations between Iran and Azerbaijan will be unstable in the future.