Tweet
Relations of Iran and the Republic of Azerbaijan: Potential friends and enemies
By Bahman Aghai Diba, PhD International Law of the Sea
Feb. 18, 2015
Islamic Republic of Iran and the Republic of Azerbaijan may seem as
potential close allies or at least two neighboring countries with very
good relations. The two countries have land, river and sea borders.
Iran, as the first and biggest Shiite country in the world, is run by
a Shiite clerics who claim to be promoting their religious messages
and supporting like minded trends. Therefore, Azerbaijan Republic, as
the only other mostly Shiite country of the world, should be Iran's
best friend. Iran has a big Azeri minority that is from the same
cultural backgrounds as the people of the Azerbaijan Republic. In
fact, the Iranian Azeri minority is bigger than the entire population
of the Republic of Azerbaijan. However, since the independence of the
Republic of Azerbaijan from the former USSR (1991), the Islamic
Republic of Iran and the Republic of Azerbaijan have had one of the
worst neighborly relations in the region and the existing trends
indicate that even worse relations may be in the way.
Problems between the two countries:
For a start, Iran and Azerbaijan Republic are both among the littoral
states of the Caspian Sea and the Caspian Sea littoral states have not
yet succeeded to define a commonly accepted formula for the legal
regime of the Caspian Sea and the two countries of Iran and
Azerbaijan have deep disagreement regarding what this regime should
be. (1)
The Azeris on both sides of the border of Iran and Azerbaijan have
common culture and language. They speak almost exactly the same
language, which is different from the Turkish language of the Turkey.
In fact some parts of the present Azerbaijan Republic consists of the
territories separated from Iran, after 20 years of unequal wars
between the Iran and Tsarist Russia, and by two imposed treaties.
Therefore, there are important unifying feelings on both sides. The
government of Azerbaijan has supported some of the separatist Azeri
groups of Iran that call for unity of Azerbaijan with the clear
intention of separating 4 Azeri provinces of Iran.(2) at the other
side, Iran fears Aliyev, backed by Israel and even the United States,
could support a revolt by its Azeris, who comprise about one-quarter
of the population. So it supports Azerbaijan's regional rival,
Armenia, in its deadlocked dispute with Baku over Nagorno-Karabakh,
currently held by Armenia.
Shiitism: the two countries are mainly Shiite Muslims, but the
government of Azerbaijan has always been cautious not to let the
Shiite elements to get to any place of power. For the same reason, the
government of Azerbaijan has been systematically eliminating the
chances of Iran for influencing the Muslims of Azerbaijan. The
activities of the Shiite groups are strictly under control. And any
relations of these groups with Iran are under scrutiny. A number of
them have been arrested. (3)
Relations with Armenia and the issue of Nagorno Garabagh- due to the
military standoff with Armenia over the region of Nagorno Karabagh,
the Azerbaijan Republic has entered into an axis of
Azerbaijan-Turkey-Israel. Iran on the other hand is afraid of the
Western presence and considers this as a part of preparations for
possible military intervention in all or parts of Iran by US (after
getting the tacit agreement of the Russians who have always wished to
see the disintegration of Iran). In order to counter the Azeri moves,
Iran is supporting Armenia. `Azerbaijan believes the clear economic
and political support of Iran from the Republic of Armenia is a kind
of declaration of war against Baku'. (4)
Another point of contention is the foreign policy of the two
countries. Azerbaijan considers itself a European country and wants
to become a member of the European Union (EU) and NATO as soon as
possible. As the relations of Iran with Western countries goes bad due
to several issues (especially the nuclear program of Iran, Iran's
intervention in the Middle East peace process, and support of Iran to
international terrorism), Azerbaijan is mentioned as one of the places
that may used by the West, especially the US, (instead of or along
with Afghanistan, Iraq, Saudi Arabia) as a possible route for the
Western attack or against the Islamic Republic of Iran.
However, none of these are as important as the issue of relations of
Azerbaijan Republic with Israel. In 2008, Azeri daily Yeni Musavat
cited a political analyst at the University of Washington's Institute
for Middle East Studies as pointing out `extensive covert and overt
preemptive cooperation in security, intelligence and military areas
between Azerbaijan and the Israeli intelligence services, Mossad' in
the ex-Soviet republic. He also referred to installation of
`highly-advanced satellite espionage equipment on the Azeri soil,
wiretapping centers in frontier areas, eavesdropping centers in the
Caspian Sea and continuous training of Azeri intelligence and security
agents in Israel' as instances of the collaboration. (5) According to
another report: ` Israel has been quietly building intelligence and
military links with oil rich Azerbaijan, a largely secular Muslim
state, since the collapse of the Soviet Union two decades ago. The
Israelis sell significant amounts of weapons and unmanned aerial
vehicles to the government in Baku, on the Caspian Sea, as its
intelligence services dig in along the border with Iran. That gives
Israel a forward operating base to monitor Iran, particularly its
contentious nuclear program, which Jerusalem views as a major
existential threat.' (6)
Dr. Afshar Sulaimani, the former Ambassador of Islamic Republic of
Iran to the Republic of Azerbaijan, has told `Diplomacy Irani': `The
Republic of Azerbaijan has many important points for Israel,
including: Presence in the northern borders of Iran. The relations of
Israel and Azerbaijan Republic have more secret aspects than open
ones. Azerbaijan tries to use the Israeli lobby in the US in its
favor, use the capability of Israeli intelligence service for
identifying the Armenian elements mostly stationed in Lebanon who are
active against the Azerbaijan, getting help for curtailing the
political Islam, stopping the effects of Iranian media and remarks of
Iranian politicians, and eventually to contain the political worries.
On the other side, Israelis use their relations with Azerbaijan as a
model of relations with a Muslim country, and trying to get
recognition among the Muslim countries, reducing the influence of Iran
in Azerbaijan, and weakening Iran in order to cut its relations with
Hamas and Hezbollah and Syria, affecting relations with Turkey and
Russia'.(7)
At the same time, worsening of relations between the Western countries
and Russia has created a new atmosphere of closeness between the Iran
and Russia and at the same time, it has opened the way for concern on
the part of some regional countries, especially the Republic of
Azerbaijan. The new trend in Iran-Russian relations, combined with
harsh moves of Russians in Ukraine, the experience of Georgia and mild
reaction of the West to such developments, have important implications
in the regional context.
The Russians have historically been very active against the interests
of the people of Iran. The old Russian Empire tried to destroy Iran in
order to devour the smaller parts one after another. Peter the Great
left guidance to destroy Iran in order to get to the `warm waters' of
the Persian Gulf. In 1907 and 1915, the Russians twice tried to
destroy Iran in collaboration with the British. The Russians separated
and devoured several parts of Iran (in 1813), including a major part
of the present territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan. The Russians
have violated the rights of Iran in the Caspian Sea and at the moment
they have a position strictly against the position of Iran in the
Caspian Sea. However, the hardliners and extremists in Iran consider
the entire events in Ukraine as Western conspiracies and they persuade
the Iranian society for closer relation between Iran and Russia.
Conclusion
The main reason for unfavorable relations between the Islamic Republic
of Iran and the Azerbaijan Republic is not the dispute on the Caspian
Sea, the suppression of the Shiites or the religious people in
Azerbaijan Republic, and similar issues. The Islamic Republic is
really careless how other countries treat the Muslims when the
problems related to its survival and security are concerned. The
biggest example of this is the close relations of Iran with the
Republic of Armenia which has no special reason but trying to put
pressure on the Azerbaijan Republic (which is a Muslim Shiite
country). Also, Iran is careless to what is happening in the Abkhazia,
Chechen and Dagestan to the Muslims under the Russian rulers. Even the
opposition of Iran to plans such as Trans-Caspian pipelines should be
looked in the light of the following fact. The main reason for the
negative attitude of the Islamic Republic of Iran towards the
Azerbaijan Republic is the close relation of Azerbaijan with the West,
and the increasing presence and activities of Israel.
Sources and references:
1. Regarding this point please refer to the author's multiple articles
in `Payvand News of Iran' on the legal regime of the Caspian Sea and
also to: Aghai Diba, Bahman, the Law and Politics of the Caspian Sea,
Booksuege, 2006, VA, US.
2, (3) and (4) Ali Jafari, writing for Alborz site.
(5) Press TV
(6) UPI
(7) IR Diplomacy
http://www.payvand.com/news/15/feb/1089.html
By Bahman Aghai Diba, PhD International Law of the Sea
Feb. 18, 2015
Islamic Republic of Iran and the Republic of Azerbaijan may seem as
potential close allies or at least two neighboring countries with very
good relations. The two countries have land, river and sea borders.
Iran, as the first and biggest Shiite country in the world, is run by
a Shiite clerics who claim to be promoting their religious messages
and supporting like minded trends. Therefore, Azerbaijan Republic, as
the only other mostly Shiite country of the world, should be Iran's
best friend. Iran has a big Azeri minority that is from the same
cultural backgrounds as the people of the Azerbaijan Republic. In
fact, the Iranian Azeri minority is bigger than the entire population
of the Republic of Azerbaijan. However, since the independence of the
Republic of Azerbaijan from the former USSR (1991), the Islamic
Republic of Iran and the Republic of Azerbaijan have had one of the
worst neighborly relations in the region and the existing trends
indicate that even worse relations may be in the way.
Problems between the two countries:
For a start, Iran and Azerbaijan Republic are both among the littoral
states of the Caspian Sea and the Caspian Sea littoral states have not
yet succeeded to define a commonly accepted formula for the legal
regime of the Caspian Sea and the two countries of Iran and
Azerbaijan have deep disagreement regarding what this regime should
be. (1)
The Azeris on both sides of the border of Iran and Azerbaijan have
common culture and language. They speak almost exactly the same
language, which is different from the Turkish language of the Turkey.
In fact some parts of the present Azerbaijan Republic consists of the
territories separated from Iran, after 20 years of unequal wars
between the Iran and Tsarist Russia, and by two imposed treaties.
Therefore, there are important unifying feelings on both sides. The
government of Azerbaijan has supported some of the separatist Azeri
groups of Iran that call for unity of Azerbaijan with the clear
intention of separating 4 Azeri provinces of Iran.(2) at the other
side, Iran fears Aliyev, backed by Israel and even the United States,
could support a revolt by its Azeris, who comprise about one-quarter
of the population. So it supports Azerbaijan's regional rival,
Armenia, in its deadlocked dispute with Baku over Nagorno-Karabakh,
currently held by Armenia.
Shiitism: the two countries are mainly Shiite Muslims, but the
government of Azerbaijan has always been cautious not to let the
Shiite elements to get to any place of power. For the same reason, the
government of Azerbaijan has been systematically eliminating the
chances of Iran for influencing the Muslims of Azerbaijan. The
activities of the Shiite groups are strictly under control. And any
relations of these groups with Iran are under scrutiny. A number of
them have been arrested. (3)
Relations with Armenia and the issue of Nagorno Garabagh- due to the
military standoff with Armenia over the region of Nagorno Karabagh,
the Azerbaijan Republic has entered into an axis of
Azerbaijan-Turkey-Israel. Iran on the other hand is afraid of the
Western presence and considers this as a part of preparations for
possible military intervention in all or parts of Iran by US (after
getting the tacit agreement of the Russians who have always wished to
see the disintegration of Iran). In order to counter the Azeri moves,
Iran is supporting Armenia. `Azerbaijan believes the clear economic
and political support of Iran from the Republic of Armenia is a kind
of declaration of war against Baku'. (4)
Another point of contention is the foreign policy of the two
countries. Azerbaijan considers itself a European country and wants
to become a member of the European Union (EU) and NATO as soon as
possible. As the relations of Iran with Western countries goes bad due
to several issues (especially the nuclear program of Iran, Iran's
intervention in the Middle East peace process, and support of Iran to
international terrorism), Azerbaijan is mentioned as one of the places
that may used by the West, especially the US, (instead of or along
with Afghanistan, Iraq, Saudi Arabia) as a possible route for the
Western attack or against the Islamic Republic of Iran.
However, none of these are as important as the issue of relations of
Azerbaijan Republic with Israel. In 2008, Azeri daily Yeni Musavat
cited a political analyst at the University of Washington's Institute
for Middle East Studies as pointing out `extensive covert and overt
preemptive cooperation in security, intelligence and military areas
between Azerbaijan and the Israeli intelligence services, Mossad' in
the ex-Soviet republic. He also referred to installation of
`highly-advanced satellite espionage equipment on the Azeri soil,
wiretapping centers in frontier areas, eavesdropping centers in the
Caspian Sea and continuous training of Azeri intelligence and security
agents in Israel' as instances of the collaboration. (5) According to
another report: ` Israel has been quietly building intelligence and
military links with oil rich Azerbaijan, a largely secular Muslim
state, since the collapse of the Soviet Union two decades ago. The
Israelis sell significant amounts of weapons and unmanned aerial
vehicles to the government in Baku, on the Caspian Sea, as its
intelligence services dig in along the border with Iran. That gives
Israel a forward operating base to monitor Iran, particularly its
contentious nuclear program, which Jerusalem views as a major
existential threat.' (6)
Dr. Afshar Sulaimani, the former Ambassador of Islamic Republic of
Iran to the Republic of Azerbaijan, has told `Diplomacy Irani': `The
Republic of Azerbaijan has many important points for Israel,
including: Presence in the northern borders of Iran. The relations of
Israel and Azerbaijan Republic have more secret aspects than open
ones. Azerbaijan tries to use the Israeli lobby in the US in its
favor, use the capability of Israeli intelligence service for
identifying the Armenian elements mostly stationed in Lebanon who are
active against the Azerbaijan, getting help for curtailing the
political Islam, stopping the effects of Iranian media and remarks of
Iranian politicians, and eventually to contain the political worries.
On the other side, Israelis use their relations with Azerbaijan as a
model of relations with a Muslim country, and trying to get
recognition among the Muslim countries, reducing the influence of Iran
in Azerbaijan, and weakening Iran in order to cut its relations with
Hamas and Hezbollah and Syria, affecting relations with Turkey and
Russia'.(7)
At the same time, worsening of relations between the Western countries
and Russia has created a new atmosphere of closeness between the Iran
and Russia and at the same time, it has opened the way for concern on
the part of some regional countries, especially the Republic of
Azerbaijan. The new trend in Iran-Russian relations, combined with
harsh moves of Russians in Ukraine, the experience of Georgia and mild
reaction of the West to such developments, have important implications
in the regional context.
The Russians have historically been very active against the interests
of the people of Iran. The old Russian Empire tried to destroy Iran in
order to devour the smaller parts one after another. Peter the Great
left guidance to destroy Iran in order to get to the `warm waters' of
the Persian Gulf. In 1907 and 1915, the Russians twice tried to
destroy Iran in collaboration with the British. The Russians separated
and devoured several parts of Iran (in 1813), including a major part
of the present territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan. The Russians
have violated the rights of Iran in the Caspian Sea and at the moment
they have a position strictly against the position of Iran in the
Caspian Sea. However, the hardliners and extremists in Iran consider
the entire events in Ukraine as Western conspiracies and they persuade
the Iranian society for closer relation between Iran and Russia.
Conclusion
The main reason for unfavorable relations between the Islamic Republic
of Iran and the Azerbaijan Republic is not the dispute on the Caspian
Sea, the suppression of the Shiites or the religious people in
Azerbaijan Republic, and similar issues. The Islamic Republic is
really careless how other countries treat the Muslims when the
problems related to its survival and security are concerned. The
biggest example of this is the close relations of Iran with the
Republic of Armenia which has no special reason but trying to put
pressure on the Azerbaijan Republic (which is a Muslim Shiite
country). Also, Iran is careless to what is happening in the Abkhazia,
Chechen and Dagestan to the Muslims under the Russian rulers. Even the
opposition of Iran to plans such as Trans-Caspian pipelines should be
looked in the light of the following fact. The main reason for the
negative attitude of the Islamic Republic of Iran towards the
Azerbaijan Republic is the close relation of Azerbaijan with the West,
and the increasing presence and activities of Israel.
Sources and references:
1. Regarding this point please refer to the author's multiple articles
in `Payvand News of Iran' on the legal regime of the Caspian Sea and
also to: Aghai Diba, Bahman, the Law and Politics of the Caspian Sea,
Booksuege, 2006, VA, US.
2, (3) and (4) Ali Jafari, writing for Alborz site.
(5) Press TV
(6) UPI
(7) IR Diplomacy
http://www.payvand.com/news/15/feb/1089.html