International powers and their impact on the Iranian- (Israeli) rivalry in the Caucasus since 2005: an analytical study

The study focused on the nature of the influence of international powers on the Iranian-(Israeli) rivalry in the Caucasus, as the Russian Federation sought to achieve a delicate balance in its relations with the two rival parties, Iran and (Israel), with the aim of protecting its geopolitical interests in the region, which is a strategic gateway to strengthening its influence in Eurasia by relying on a flexible policy to maintain regional stability there while strengthening its military and economic presence. In return, the United States of America provided significant support to (Israel) with the aim of strengthening its influence in the Caucasus as part of its strategy to contain Iran, and this support included economic and military partnerships, which made (Israel) an influential player in the interactions of the regional system there. As for Europe, it did not show a clear position on the Iranian-(Israeli) rivalry, because it preferred to focus on settling the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict through peaceful means, in order to preserve the stability of the region and prevent the escalation of tensions, given that the Caucasus region is adjacent to European lands and has a major energy source, which is Azerbaijan. For its part, China has adopted a pragmatic approach to dealing with the competition, as it sought to benefit from this polarization to strengthen its economic and political presence in the Caucasus. Therefore, we find that it preferred to maintain a balance in its relations with both parties, which enabled it to consolidate its strategic influence without siding with any party or risking its growing interests in the region.