Before the Azerbaijan-Armenıa War: Karabakh in Iran's Foreign Policy

Since the 1979 revolution, the Islamic Republic of Iran has generally pursued an ideological foreign policy. While Iran's stance on Nagorno-Karabakh has shown occasional variations, it has maintained a consistent approach within its own framework. Overall, Iran has approached the Nagorno-Karabakh issue, which has persisted for thirty years, with considerable sensitivity. The primary source of this sensitivity is the significant Turkish population in Iran, particularly the South Azerbaijani Turks. However, Azerbaijan’s growing alliance with Turkey, the strengthening of Turkey's influence in the Caucasus, and Azerbaijan's developing relations with the U.S. and Israel have raised concerns in Iran. Despite ostensibly supporting Shia-majority Azerbaijan, Iran has often aligned its policy with Armenia. This study aims to outline this process in broad terms. Additionally, it highlights the impact of Iran's foreign policy on establishing the geoeconomic and geostrategic equation in the region and emphasizes how the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict has become a key, if not deadlocked, element in Iran-Azerbaijan relations.