Politics 14:05 07/11/2022 Region

Analysis: Iran turns attention to the Caucasus

Iranian Foreign Minister Amir-Abdollahian’s three-day visit to Armenia and the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps’ (IRGC) three-day exercise on the Aras River signal a shift in Iran’s strategy toward its northwest region, Alexander Nachman said in an article on The National Interest on Sunday.

“While significant in their own right, Iran’s recent diplomatic and military initiatives in the Caucasus reflect not only its approach to its northwest region after the Nagorno-Karabakh War but also efforts to resist foreign interference and what it defines as separatist movements inside its borders and among its neighbors,” the author wrote.

"While Iran has maintained an official policy of neutrality vis-à-vis Armenia and Azerbaijan since the fall of the Soviet Union, Turkey’s interference on the side of Azerbaijan in the Nagorno-Karabakh War, which ended in 2020, has since prompted Iran to provide greater support to Armenia. Iran’s interest here is twofold. On the one hand, Iran has an existential interest in maintaining the integrity of its neighboring borders, which have shifted at various times in the country’s history, particularly in the north, as both Armenia and Azerbaijan were once part of Iran. On the other hand, maintaining border security mitigates foreign interference and separatist resistance. But a resurgence of violence between Armenia and Azerbaijan in September and October of this year overlaps with widespread protests in Iran, as well as armed conflicts in Kurdistan, both of which it blames on foreign meddling and separatist rebellion.

"On October 22, the IRGC and Foreign Minister Amir-Abdollahian completed a military training exercise on the Aras River and a diplomatic trip in Armenia, culminating in the consulate opening in Kapan. During his trip, Amir-Abdollahian discussed with Armenian prime minister Nikol Pashinyan the need to maintain and develop the North-South corridor, which would function as a transit route between the Persian Gulf and the Black Sea through Armenia and Georgia; he also emphasized that Tehran is against any changes to the borders of the region. Amir-Abdollahian’s statement on border changes refers directly to the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region—acquired by Azerbaijan in 2020—and parallel efforts by Turkey and Azerbaijan to develop the Zangezur corridor, which would run through Armenia’s southern border and provide Turkey with direct access to Central Asia, minimizing Iranian influence. 

"In late October, Prime Minister Pashinyan also met with Russian president Vladimir Putin and President Raisi to resolve these issues diplomatically, with Raisi expressing intolerance for the Zangezur corridor. At present, due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Zangezur corridor would provide a much-needed East-West alternative. Yet, Iran has supported the North-South corridor because it would benefit more from a Persian Gulf-Black Sea transit route than an East-West route in the Caucasus. The Zangezur corridor would also involve Russian and Turkish interests.

"The IRGC’s simultaneous military exercises on the Aras River reflect two of Iran’s immediate concerns. The first concern stems from the Zangezur corridor, which would potentially interfere with the Iran-Armenia border. An additional problem is one expressed by some Iranian lawmakers regarding Israel’s presence in the Caucasus and Central Asia. Mohammad Safaei, a representative from Rezavi Khorasan Province, stated, “The Zionists are seeking to undermine the Islamic Republic’s influence in Central Asia through this [presence]. But they will never succeed.” And Hasan Hemmati, a member of the Parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, added, “This exercise was a show of force whose message is peace and friendship for the neighboring countries and a decisive response to any threat for the enemies” It should also be noted that on October 24, after the above statements, Iran claimed to have arrested ten agents working for Israel.

"Using various strategies, Iran is attempting to secure its northwest borders and generally dominate the northwest region. Whether the threat is Israeli, Turkish, Kurdish, or Azerbaijani, real or imagined, it is essential to understand these policies and their consequences in their broader domestic and international context. It should also be noted that foreign interference, while not always the cause of turmoil and sometimes overstated, has been a historical reality. Iran’s conflicts in the northwest are hardly recent. However, its increased security measures in the region are directly related to domestic events, which, in turn, have consequences for regional politics for the Caucasus and Kurdistan and global commerce regarding North-South and East-West trade. The human toll of these policies is, of course, the actual cost of security, trade, and stability—a price which has only increased in recent weeks," reads the article.



Source Panorama.am
Share |
Տեքստում սխալ կամ վրիպակ նկատելու դեպքում, ուղարկեք խմբագրին հաղորդագրություն` նշելով տվյալ սխալը, այնուհետև սեղմելով Ctrl-Enter:

Newsfeed

12:00
Cargo plane crashes into house in Lithuania, killing one
A DHL cargo plane crashed into a house as it made its approach to land at Lithuania’s Vilnius airport early on Monday, killing one person...
11:45
Today is legendary commander Monte Melkonian's birthday
November 25 marks the birthday anniversary of legendary Armenian commander, philosopher and warrior Monte Melkonian. He would have turned 67...
11:30
Fog hits Syunik highlands
The Rescue Service has warned drivers about a closed road in Armenia. The road linking the Amberd high mountain meteorological station to...
11:15
World Cadet Championship: Armenia's Tyhran Ambartsumian among leaders
The World Cadet Chess Championship 2024 is coming to a close in Montesilvano, Italy. CM Tyhran Ambartsumian is among the leaders before...
11:00
Putin, Erdogan hold phone call
Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan discussed relations between the two nations during a phone...
17:00
Armenian church honors St Gregory the Thaumaturgus and others
The Armenian Apostolic Church on Saturday commemorates St Gregory the Thaumaturgus, Nicholas the Bishop and St Myron the Wonderworker....
16:30
Banner at Armenian church in Watertown vandalized, police say
A banner at St. Stephen’s Armenian Church in Watertown has been vandalized, Watertown News reports, citing local police. The...
16:02
At least 3 arrested as Montreal anti-NATO protests turns violent
Montreal police say at least three people were arrested after protests turned violent Friday evening, with demonstrators throwing objects at...
15:45
Expert: Armenia pinned hopes on 'European fairy tales' and became isolated
Arthur Khachikyan, an international relations expert from Stanford University, claims the Armenian government’s poor foreign...
15:07
Armenian-Russian relations 'in agony', expert says
Hayk Khalatyan, a political analyst at the Verelq Information and Analytical Center, on Saturday accused Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and his...
14:32
Powerful Israeli airstrike kills 11 people in central Beirut
A powerful airstrike killed 11 people in central Beirut on Saturday, the Lebanese civil defence said, shaking the capital as Israel pressed its...
14:15
Expert: Armenian-Azeri talks somewhat stalled
Political analyst Suren Sargsyan claims the Armenian-Azerbaijani peace talks have somewhat stalled amid the change of government in the United...
13:33
Temperatures set to plunge next week
Clear weather is expected in Armenia's regions over the weekend. Rain and snow are forecast for most parts of the country next week....
13:06
Magnitude 4․3 quake hits Azerbaijan, felt in Armenia
A magnitude 4․3 earthquake struck Azerbaijan on Saturday afternoon. The quake was recorded 42 km northeast of the town of Goris in...
12:35
Opposition MP slams Pashinyan's Western Armenia remarks
Opposition Hayastan faction MP Levon Kocharyan has blasted Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's remarks on Western Armenia and Baku’s fake...
12:00
MP Hovik Aghazaryan says decided on his parliament seat
MP Hovik Aghazaryan of Armenia’s ruling Civil Contract party has made a decision on his parliament seat. The deputy has told the media...
11:36
US lawmakers request classified briefing on Turkey’s ties to Hamas
More than three dozen Democratic and Republican lawmakers are calling on the Biden administration to offer a classified briefing on...
11:15
Armenia's Mushegh Mkrtchyan wins bronze at World Military Wrestling Championships
Armenian serviceman Mushegh Mkrtchyan (92 kg) has clinched a bronze medal at the 37th CISM World Military Wrestling Championships in Yerevan,...
11:00
Switzerland bans exports to Polish firm after Swiss-made ammunition ends up in Ukraine
The Swiss government said Friday it is barring exports to a Polish military hardware supplier after concluding that some 645,000 rounds of...
17:12
Armenia to face Georgia in Nations League play-off
The 2024/25 UEFA Nations League knockout stage and play-off ties have been confirmed following the draw in Nyon, Switzerland on Friday....
16:36
Hayk Marutyan agrees to debate with Tigran Avinyan
New Power party leader Hayk Marutyan has agreed to a TV debate with incumbent Yerevan Mayor Tigran Avinyan. Marutyan, a former Yerevan...
15:45
Opposition politician: Pashinyan leading Armenia to 'final collapse'
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s administration is leading Armenia to the “final collapse” and Turkification, opposition...
15:05
Caretaker deputy justice minister sacked
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has signed a decree to dismiss Armenuhi Harutyunyan as Acting Deputy Minister of Justice....
14:35
Armenian parliament speaker confirms MP's resignation
National Assembly Speaker Alen Simonyan has issued a statement on the resignation of Narek Zeynalyan as an MP from Armenia’s ruling Civil...
14:06
Visa restricts media access to key event in Yerevan
Visa has restricted the media access to the Cashless Forum 2024 to be held in Yerevan for the first time on November 22. Only...
13:36
Orban says he will invite Netanyahu to Hungary after ICC warrant
Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Friday he would invite Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to visit Hungary, saying he would guarantee...
13:11
Temps to plummet in Armenia
Clear weather is expected in Armenia's regions on Friday and over the weekend. Rain and snow are forecast for most parts of the country...
12:32
Alexis Ohanian showcases rare Armenian coin
Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian has showcased a rare Armenian coin from 95 BC featuring Tigranes the Great, a famous Armenian king....
12:16
German foreign minister criticizes Azerbaijan's human rights record
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock criticized the human rights record of Azerbaijan during her first appearance at the UN Climate Change...
12:06
Minister shares new images captured by Armenia's first satellite
Armenia's Minister of High-Tech Industry Mkhitar Hayrapetyan has shared new satellite images from orbit captured by ARMSAT-1,...

Follow us and get updates!

Most popular articles

{"core.blocks.header.spell_message1":"Selected mistake: ","core.blocks.header.spell_message2":"Send a message about the mistake?"}