Iran Getting Chummy With the Southern Caucasus Countries

Uncharacteristically for the isolated Iran, it is attempting to reach out to it's northern neighbors in the Caucasus. These countries that make up the Caucasus region are Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan. Iranian officials have been in the Caucasus promising large economic projects meant to build friendship, such as a unilateral waiver of visa for Azerbaijan and Georgian citizens traveling to Iran, and assisting Georgia in building a hydroelectric plant. Iran has also offered to mediate the dispute over the Nagorno-Karabakh region between Armenia and Azerbaijan. These latest move isn't one of religious motives, it's purely pragmatic. Iran has no interest in allowing the U.S., E.U., or Russia to become too chummy with the countries facing its northern border. Iran, with its massive supply of oil, would also love to cut in on Caspian Sea oil transit routes. Optimistic observers see this as baby steps towards a friendlier, more stable Iran. Others say that Iran is overstretching itself. In the end, economic ties between Iran and the South Caucasus states are still small. Even if the economic ties with the Caucasus states strengthen, with Iran’s long term goals appear to be acquiring nuclear weapons, this is an issue Iran and its new Caucasus “friends” will have to discuss.


http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2010/09/20/irans_near_abroad?page=0,0

Submitted by William Ragan