Writer: Hamad Jassim Muhammad Al-Khazraji/
Head of the Crisis Management Department
Translated by: Hiba Abbas Mohammed Ali
Iran and Azerbaijan are gathering in cultural, social and religious features, Azerbaijan was a part of Iran before it lose in Caucasian wars (1808-1824) with Russia, In addition, 85% of the population are Shitte Muslims.but, recent tensions have led both States to militarize the parties at the border and to conduct military exercises.in addition to the old points of disagreement between the two countries including The political system in the Republic of Azerbaijan is secular and Western-oriented. There are Iranian suspicions of cooperation between it and the United States regarding Iran’s nuclear program and the establishment of military bases for it, there are also aspirations for Azerbaijani nationalists to form a major Azerbaijan, this poses a threat to Iran’s territorial unity, and the different views on the division of the maritime border in Caspian, The recent causes of tension have varied from one side to another, the Republic of Azerbaijan accuses Iran of violating its sovereignty and, in particular, sending fuel trucks to the territory of Nagorny Qarra Bagh declared as the Republic of Artsakh by the Armenians, which Azerbaijan rejects. And It started charging , which caused Iran’s anger, Iran accuses Azerbaijan of becoming a base of Israeli influence and that the terrorist operations and bombings that took place in Iran were with Israeli support across Azerbaijani territory. Iran then mobilized its military forces and threatened to take military action to counter the Israeli presence and protect its national security.
Iran then mobilized its military forces and threatened to take military actions to counter the Israeli presence and to protect its national security. But the main cause of the tension between two states is economic, , Azerbaijan (In its recent war with Armenia )managed to control part of the Goris-Kapan transport route between Iran and Armenia. and establish a military checkpoints, which impeded the arrival of fuel trucks in Armenia and the territory of Nagorny Qara Bagh, Azerbaijan has begun charging large transit charges for these trucks and trapping some of them, and has opened the Zangzor Corridor linking Turkey and the Republic of Azerbaijan through Armenian territory. Which will be Geopolitic and geo economic important, linking turkey with middle Asia and caucasus, strengthen the economic relations between two countries.
Azerbaijan’s relations with Israel are a security threat to Iran, Israel can penetrate Iran’s borders and recruit agents, install listening devices and drones, and easily target Iran’s nuclear facilities.
Despite the tensions between two countries, both of them don’t want a military conflict of dangerous dimensions, Azerbaijan tries to avoid any tension or conflict that makes Armenia outperform it.
As for Iran, any conflict in the region will be in the interest of Turkey and Israel. Iran’s military superiority compared to the Republic of Azerbaijan will not be in favor of Iran in the long term. The Caucasus is a Russian area of influence and Russia will not allow its instability, which needs an international intervention on its borders.especially it stopped the war between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Iran does not want to strain its relationship with Russia and try to maintain its national cohesion. Azerbaijani nationalism is the second national minority in Iran , and it has a clear impact on all parts of countries politically, economically, militarily and culturally, and they are united with the Persians in protecting the unity of the Iranian state. The importance of the region strategically and economically and the future plans to be the gateway to China and East Asia to Europe and the world through Silk Road .
Making Iran and Azerbaijan avoid any military confrontation that could be destructive and lead to chaos, and ending tension and conflict is the key to progress, growth and cooperation in the region as a whole.
