Some Aspects of Iran’s Relations with the Countries of the South Caucasus after the August 2008 Crisis

Abstract

The states of the South Caucasus, which have preserved historical and cultural ties with the Iranian world, inherited from the Persian Empire, are traditionally given an important place in the foreign policy priorities of the Islamic Republic of Iran. In the interests of ensuring the national security of the country, the Iranian power elites consistently advocate the settlement of conflicts in the South Caucasus by political means and the creation on this basis of favorable conditions for the peaceful, stable and secure development of this region. At the same time, Iran shows a high interest in the development of good-neighborly relations with the South Caucasian states, based on mutual respect and observance of each other’s interests. This article examines the main directions of Iran’s foreign policy in the South Caucasus after the August 2008 crisis; the features and characteristic features of this policy, as well as the forms and methods of its implementation are revealed. Particular attention is paid to the study of problem areas in Iran’s relations with its South Caucasian neighbors, in particular Georgia and Azerbaijan. The paper notes that the implementation of Iran’s plans to achieve a leading role in solving regional problems was opposed by the United States and its Western partners, which have strong influence and positions in the South Caucasus. Nevertheless, against the background of geopolitical transformations in the region, favorable conditions arose for a significant increase in the role and place of Iran in the political processes in the South Caucasus. But in order to take advantage of them, it was necessary not to limit ourselves to mere measures to achieve a balance of power in the South Caucasus, but to more actively promote our own initiatives in this region, the authors of the study emphasize.