ISRAELI-AZERBAIJANI ALLIANCE AND IRAN By Mahir Khalifa-zadeh* This article discusses cooperation between Israel and the Republic of Azerbaijan in order to neutralize foreign threats and ensure regional security. Expanding and improving ties with Azerbaijan has been part of Israel's newly adopted strategy toward non-Arab Muslim states. Also addressed is Iran's attitude towards Azerbaijan and the political and ideological opposition between the two mainly Shi'a-populated countries. Highlighted is the cooperation's strategic importance for improving security and defense capabilities for both Israel and Azerbaijan. Last, U.S. priorities in the South Caucasus are viewed in the context of the Israeli-Azerbaijani alliance. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND Even earlier, in 1883, oil companies owned by the Rothschild family (of Jewish origin) Historic sources and research confirm that entered the scene in Baku, followed by Jews of both Persian (also known as Rockefeller’s gigantic Standard Oil Caucasian Mountain Jews) as well as Company.5 Thus, the Jews lived in peace Ashkenazi origin have lived in Azerbaijan and friendship with local Azeris and had for centuries.1 The presence of Persian Jews successful businesses in the country. in Azerbaijan can be traced back over 2,000 During the period of the Azerbaijan years, to even before the fifth century. Democratic Republic (ADR, 1918-1920)-- Historically, Azerbaijan has been very which formulated key ideological, political, welcoming toward the Jews. During the and security priorities for independent periods of both the Russian and Soviet Azerbaijan--the Jewish Popular University empires Azerbaijan had no antisemitic was established (1919) and Yiddish- and traditions. In the nineteenth century, under Hebrew-language periodicals were the Russian Empire, Jews of Ashkenazi published. Moreover, Dr. Yevsey Gindes, an descent began to settle in Azerbaijan. Others Ashkenazi Jew, served as Minister of Health arrived during World War II to escape the in ADR's cabinet under the first prime Nazis.2 . Many famous Jews were born and minister, Fatali Khan Khoyski. have studied in Azerbaijan, including Jews continued to arrive and settle in scientist of modern physics and Nobel Prize Azerbaijan during the Soviet period as well. Laureate Lev Landau. Born in Baku, The Jews in Soviet Azerbaijan were not Azerbaijan, in 1908, he enrolled in Baku exposed to the widespread discrimination State University in 1922.3 that was typical in other parts of the USSR. During the nineteenth century, Baku Thus, the Ashkenazi Jews formed a became a center for the Zionist movement in significant part of the intellectual and the Russian Empire. The first branch of technocratic elites in Soviet Azerbaijan.6 Hovevei Zion ("Lovers of Zion") was established in Baku in 1891, and in 1910, the first choir synagogue opened in the city.4 56 Middle East Review of International Affairs, Vol. 17, No. 1 (Spring 2013) Israeli-Azerbaijani Alliance and Iran POLITICAL DYNAMICS IN THE cooperation with Azerbaijan and Georgia. SOUTH CAUCASUS AND IRAN'S Iran welcomed the Russo-Georgian war of PRIORITIES IN THE REGION 2008, which it saw as a brilliant opportunity to reverse the region's strategic atmosphere The Russo-Georgian War of 2008 shifted from pro-Western to a much more pro- South Caucasus politics significantly and Russian atmosphere --hence a more pro- created a new political atmosphere in this Iranian one also. part of the world. As a result of the war, a The Islamic Republic of Iran considers completely new strategic situation has Russia to be a key ally in resisting the emerged in the region.7 Prior to the war, United States. Tehran prefers to be under since 1994, when Azerbaijan signed the Russia's strategic umbrella and cooperates "Contract of the Century" (agreement with a with Moscow on global and regional levels. consortium of international oil companies Tehran supports the strengthening of for the exploration and exploitation of three Russia's influence in the South Caucasus offshore oil fields in the country), the and Central Asia for strategic reasons.8 In strategic situation in the South Caucasus face of possible U.S. and/or Israeli military could be characterized as a period of large- options to stop the Iranian nuclear program, scale Western penetration. The United Iran hopes Russia’s dominance in the South States, the European Union, and Turkey, Caucasus and Central Asia would prevent began to play a significant role in South the United States or NATO from deploying Caucasian affairs, which had traditionally military bases in close proximity to the been orchestrated by Iran and Russia. Iranian border. Moreover, several strategic programs At the same time, Russia also needs were launched by the Clinton administration Iran’s cooperation in order to secure both (and continued under the Bush the South Caucasus and Central Asia under administration) and the EU. These included Moscow, or under shared Iranian control. Partnership for Peace, the Silk Road Tehran's strategic priorities in the South Strategy Act, Caspian Watch, the EU's Caucasus can thus be identified as follows: Eastern Partnership, and others. The goal of these programs was to strengthen the 1. To counter and reduce U.S. Western presence and minimize both Iranian influence; and Russian influence in this very sensitive 2. To oppose U.S., NATO, and EU part of the world. Unlike Armenia, initiatives and long-term objectives; Azerbaijan and Georgia slowly began to 3. To prevent the deployment of drift toward NATO membership. In U.S./NATO troops; addition, South Caucasian countries, 4. To block both Georgia and particularly Azerbaijan and Georgia, started Azerbaijan from moving toward to develop strong ties with the State of NATO/EU membership; Israel. 5. To minimize Israel's influence and In the meantime, Iran, as a key regional cooperation with South Caucasian player, reacted very concerned about the countries; West's “aggressive advance" into the 6. To align the security order with traditionally Iranian and Russian sphere of Iran’s strategic interests; influence. Iran's hostility toward the United 7. To control Caspian energy resources States and Israel pushed Tehran to stop or and transportation routes; limit Western penetration as well as Israel's Middle East Review of International Affairs, Vol. 17, No. 1 (Spring 2013) 57 Mahir Khalifa-zadeh 8. To contain the rising influence of direct challenge or threat to its security and Turkey and the Turkey-Azerbaijani political future. This key point in Tehran's alliance; calculations towards Azerbaijan has deep 9. To prolong the Turkish-Armenian historical roots. hostility; 10. To oppose the Turkey-Georgia- Historical Factors Azerbaijan triangle of strategic cooperation; From ancient times, the Azeri Turks and 11. To ensure Russia's dominance and Azerbaijan were both heart and part of the the current status-quo; and Persian Empire. Azeri Turk dynasties like 12. To support Russia's leading role in the Ghaznavids, Safavids, Qajars, and others the Caspian-Caucasus region. played a key role in expanding and defending the Persian Empire, and the Last, it is beneficial for Iran to maintain Azerbaijani city of Tabriz served as capital the current status-quo and to support of the Empire for centuries. Several Iranian Russia's dominance in the region. In this shahs, in fact, are of Azeri Turk origin.9 case, Iran is able to ensure its paramount It was only in the nineteenth century with strategic goal: to limit or decrease U.S. the 1828 Treaty of Turkmenchay that influence and prevent American attempts to Imperial Russia gained control of part of the redesign the region’s political landscape in Persian Empire, the then semi-independent order to secure Washington’s dominance. northern Azerbaijani khanates. These territories became the nucleus for the IRAN'S ATTITUDE TOWARD THE modern republics of Azerbaijan and REPUBLIC OF AZERBAIJAN Armenia. The Persian Empire officially renounced its claim to the northern Notwithstanding, Iran and Azerbaijan are Azerbaijani khanates, leading to the division both Shi’i Muslim countries and have a of Azerbaijan into two: Northern Azerbaijan common historical and cultural heritage. or Russian (Soviet) Azerbaijan and Southern History as well as ideological and political Azerbaijan or Iranian Azerbaijan. Since the factors have shaped relations between the Soviet Union's collapse, this history has two countries and have influenced the created an illusion among Iranians that policies of the Islamic Republic of Iran Tehran's government has the right to take toward the Republic of Azerbaijan. Iran was Azerbaijan back under its control, to among the first countries to recognize intervene in Azerbaijani politics, and to Azerbaijan's return to independence in 1991, manipulate Azerbaijan's future in establishing diplomatic relations with Baku accordance with Iran's interests. Baku's in March 22, 1992. Since the Soviet assertion of independence and its clear disintegration, however, the unstable and unwillingness to be reincorporated into Iran complicated Iranian-Azerbaijani relationship has made for a rocky relationship with has demonstrated Tehran’s discomfort with Teheran. Azerbaijan’s existence as an independent and secular state. In addition, Tehran resents Political Factors Baku's strategic relations with Iran's key enemies--the United States and Israel. It is On May 28, 1918, following the collapse clear from the actions of the Iranian of the Russian Empire, Azerbaijan declared government that it considers Azerbaijan a its independence and identified itself as the 58 Middle East Review of International Affairs, Vol. 17, No. 1 (Spring 2013) Israeli-Azerbaijani Alliance and Iran Azerbaijan Democratic Republic (ADR, important historical figure both in Iran and 1918-1920).10 Iran attempted to in Azerbaijan.11 reincorporate Azerbaijan, but the ADR While Iran follows the Shi’i ideology, government refused and established Azerbaijan has adopted a Kemalist ideology. relations with the Entente governments in Azerbaijani nationalism is based on the order to secure its independence.