Iranian–Azerbaijani Political Relations amid Regional and International Transformations (1991–2005)

Abstract

This study examines the development of political relations between Iran and Azerbaijan during the period 1991–2005 amid regional and international transformations. These relations were marked by instability and fluctuation as a result of the interplay of ethnic considerations, regional intersections, and complex international interventions. Despite the historical, religious, and cultural ties that bind the two countries, the reality of their relations was profoundly shaped by divergent political orientations and by the nature of the alliances adopted by both Tehran and Baku within a turbulent regional environment.

Ethnic tensions became clearly visible, particularly in connection with the discourse surrounding the “Greater Azerbaijan” project, which heightened Iranian sensitivity toward the status of the Azerbaijani minority within its territory, in addition to Azerbaijan’s support for opposition currents inside Iran. The conflict in the Nagorno-Karabakh region, together with Tehran’s support for the Armenian side, also contributed to the recurrent deterioration of relations, despite the shared religious background linking Iran with Baku.

On the other hand, oil played a central role in reshaping the map of tensions. Iran’s exclusion from major energy agreements, especially the Baku–Ceyhan pipeline project, constituted a turning point that prompted Tehran to adopt more hardline positions. Likewise, the American presence in Azerbaijan, along with growing security cooperation with NATO and Israel, intensified Iranian concerns, as Iran came to view Azerbaijan as a northern front threatening its national security. Although some periods witnessed relative rapprochement, particularly during the era of Ilham Aliyev, who sought to pursue a policy of balance between Iran and the United States, relations did not move beyond the framework of caution and deferred conflict. They thus reflected a struggle of regional and international interests more than a natural relationship between two neighboring states. In this sense, these relations remained governed by geopolitical factors, sectarian and ethnic competition, and shifting international balances, which made them a model of troubled relations within a highly complex strategic environment.