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Geopolitical Interests of Iran in South Caucasus and Georgian-Iranian Relations

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Geopolitical Interests of Iran in South Caucasus and Georgian-Iranian Relations Journal of Social Sciences, 1(2):5-12,2012 ISSN:2233-3878 Geopolitical Interests of Iran in South Caucasus and Georgian-Iranian Relations Nika CHITADZE* Abstract The paper explores geopolitical, geo-economic and geostrategic interests of the Islamic Republic of Iran towards South Caucasus Region. To state more specifically, it provides analyzes about foreign policy priorities of Iran, geopolitical importance of the South Caucasus re- gion, main obstacles and perspectives of cooperation development between Iran and South Caucasian states and main political, economic and legal aspects of Iran-Georgia relations. Keywords: Caucasus, cooperation, geopolitics, Iran, location Introduction Foreign Policy Priorities of Iran Collapse of the Soviet Union was the most important up- Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, is located heaval of the second half of the 20th century that opened in the Southern and Western parts of Asia. The name “Iran”, up new dimensions for security and national interests of means “Land of the Aryans” which in Persian, has been in the Islamic Republic of Iran. At the end of the 1980’s and use natively since the Sassanian era. Regardless very old early 90’s three important events helped Iran to develop origins of this word, it became internationally used only relations with its South Caucasian neighbours. Simultane- since 1935. The country was known for the international ously, ending of the “cold war” and the rise of New Inde- society as Persia before. “Persia” and “Iran” are both used pendent States (NIS) changed Iran’s geopolitical attitude interchangeably in cultural contexts; however, title “Iran” towards the North. Besides, new security threats were just is officially used in political contexts. rising, such as conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan, According to the size of the territory, Iran is the 18th- escalation of internal territorial conflicts in Georgia. While largest country in the world, with the area of 1,648,195 political processes at Iran’s Western border limited its abil- km2 (636,372 sq mi) (Encyclopedia Britanica, 2012) with ity to conduct active policies, situation at its northern bor- approximately 79 million people living in it. This country der opened up not only opportunities but threats. Under is geopolitically significant, as it is located in the Middle enormous pressure from its young population to achieve East and Central Eurasia. Iran is bordered by Armenia, economic progress, and in result of increasing instability Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan to the north. As Iran is a lit- in the region, Iran drew its attention to its northern neigh- toral state of the Caspian Sea, which is an inland sea, Ka- bours. zakhstan and Russia are also Iran’s neighbors to the North. One of the main reasons of increased interests of Iran From the Eastern side, the neighbors of Iran are Afghani- towards the South Caucasian region was related with the stan and Pakistan, on the south it is washed by the Persian fact, that Caucasus was historically known to be a cross- Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, on the West country is bor- roads of trade from the Mediterranean to China and from dered by Iraq and on the northwest by Turkey. Tehran is the the Baltic Sea to the Arabic world. Due to its strategic posi- capital, the largest city and political, cultural, commercial tion, Caucasus was regularly the reason for territorial con- and industrial center of the nation. Iran is a regional power; flicts between, inter alia, the Persian, Ottoman and Russian it has an important position in international energy security Empires. Regarding political, strategic and economic im- and world economy as a result of its large reserves of pe- portance of the South Caucasus, existence of important oil troleum and natural gas. To be more specific, 9% of the oil and gas reserves has been the ground for involvement into and 16% of the gas are coming from the Iranian reserves. this area by the following states and organizations, such as Accordingly, Iran has the second largest proven natural gas Iran, Turkey, Russia, the USA, NATO and the EU. reserves in the world and the fourth largest proven petro- *Nika Chitadze is an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Social Sciences, International Black Sea University, Tbilisi, Georgia. E-mail: [email protected] 5 Nika CHITADZE Journal of Social Sciences, 1(2):5-12,2012 ISSN:2233-3878 leum reserves (Chitadze, 2011. P. 399). Geopolitical Location and Significance of South Cau- Iran, with its long history, is home to one of the world’s casus Region oldest civilizations. The first dynasty on the modern territo- Location between East and West / North and South: ry of Iran was formed in 2800 BC under Elamite kingdom. The Iranian Medes managed to unify Iran into an empire in Speaking in terms of Geography, South Caucasus en- 625 BC. They were succeeded by the Persian Achaemenid compasses Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan. These are Empire, the Hellenic Seleucid Empire and two subsequent three newly independent states with a short history of po- Iranian empires, the Parthians and the Sassanids, before the litical independence and constitutional governance, though Muslim conquest in 651 AD. Iranian post-Islamic rulers they have ancient history of statehood and traditions. We expanded the Persian language and culture throughout the will briefly review each of them separately but emphasize Iranian plateau. Early Iranian dynasties which re-asserted their importance as members of one region. Iranian independence included the Tahirids, Saffarids, Sa- Caucasus region, encompassing the North Caucasus manids and Buyids. and South Caucasus as well as the Caspian Basin, is one of Persian literature, philosophy, medicine, astronomy, the most coveted pieces of territory in the World, thanks to mathematics, art and other sciences became major ele- its geo-strategic location between Central Asian and Euro- ments of the Muslim and the World civilization. Iranian pean territories. The land corridor of South Caucasus fos- people reserved their identity despite being governed by ters contact or confrontation between Russia on the North foreigners in the ensuing centuries. Due to having the oldest and Turkey and Iran on the South. On this same axis, vari- roots, Persian culture was also adopted by the Ghaznavids, ous forms of Christianity face Sunni and Shiite branches of Seljuk, Ilkhanid and Timurid rulers. In 1501 emergence of Islam. Furthermore, the fact that the area possesses large the Safavid dynasty which promoted Twelver Shia Islam as oil and gas deposits can lead to further cooperation and/ an official religion of their empire, marked one of the most or competition and eventually a conflict between regional important turning points in Iranian and Muslim history. powers and their external allies. These conditions make The Persian Constitutional Revolution established the na- this area unified, strategic and security complex as well as tion’s first parliament in 1906, within a constitutional mon- an embodiment of conflict (Chitadze, 2007. P. 8). archy. Monarchy in the country was abolished on April 1st, On the one hand, the region remains a matter of pro- 1979 as a result of Islamic Revolution. found interest of Turkey and Iran. On the other hand it re- Iran is one of the founders of the UN, NAM, OIC and mains a vital concern of Russia, which is sensitive to ex- OPEC. Modern political system of Iran, based on the 1979 ternal influence or the possibility of actual physical threats constitution, comprises several intricately connected gov- to the region. Thus there are areas of possible clash of in- erning bodies. The highest state authority is the Supreme terests, which, in case of indifference, could easily develop Leader. Shia Islam is an official religion and Persian is an into multilateral armed conflicts. official language. Even a rudimentary study of Caucasian history reveals Foreign policy of Iran refers to inter-governmental that the region has been designated for peoples, nations relationships between Iran and other countries. The Islamic and languages, still suffering from the aftermaths of earlier Republic of Iran accords priority to its relations with other Tsarist conquests and colonial rule. It remains as a region states in the region and with the rest of the world. This of implication of sudden independence and formation of includes an involvement into activity of the Organization ethnic identities. of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), support of the Non-Aligned Caucasus not only serves as a meeting place between Movement and Cooperation with the states of the Persian East and West, namely Central Asia and Europe, to some Gulf Cooperation Council (PGCC). Concerning the prob- extent epitomized by the concepts - “New Silk Road” and lems on nuclear program of Iran, country is seeking new the “Europe-Asia Transportation Corridor”- TRACECA, allies around the world due to its increasing political and but it plays more important role in terms of security. economic isolation in the international community. This Security dimension connected to development of the isolation is reflected in various economic sanctions, first of region’s energy potential should not be underestimated. all from the US side and the EU oil embargo. The long-overdue resolution of Nagorno-Karabakh con- Iran is pursuing a policy of cooperation development flict, instability in the South Caucasus, with secessionist with the countries of neighboring regions - Caucasus and movements in Abkhazia and South Ossetia and unresolved Central
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