Durham E-Theses IRAN'S REGIONAL POLICY IN THE SOUTH CAUCASUS: CASE STUDIES OF RELATIONS WITH THE REPUBLICS OF AZERBAIJAN & ARMENIA KOUHI-ESFAHANI, MARZIEH How to cite: KOUHI-ESFAHANI, MARZIEH (2016) IRAN'S REGIONAL POLICY IN THE SOUTH CAUCASUS: CASE STUDIES OF RELATIONS WITH THE REPUBLICS OF AZERBAIJAN & ARMENIA, Durham theses, Durham University. Available at Durham E-Theses Online: http://etheses.dur.ac.uk/11870/ Use policy The full-text may be used and/or reproduced, and given to third parties in any format or medium, without prior permission or charge, for personal research or study, educational, or not-for-prot purposes provided that: • a full bibliographic reference is made to the original source • a link is made to the metadata record in Durham E-Theses • the full-text is not changed in any way The full-text must not be sold in any format or medium without the formal permission of the copyright holders. Please consult the full Durham E-Theses policy for further details. Academic Support Oce, Durham University, University Oce, Old Elvet, Durham DH1 3HP e-mail: [email protected] Tel: +44 0191 334 6107 http://etheses.dur.ac.uk 2 IRAN’S REGIONAL POLICY IN THE SOUTH CAUCASUS: CASE STUDIES OF RELATIONS WITH THE REPUBLICS OF AZERBAIJAN & ARMENIA A Thesis Submitted for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy by: Marzieh Kouhi-Esfahani Durham University School of Government and International Affairs 2015 In the Name of God The Compassionate the Merciful This manuscript is dedicated to: My Husband Dr. H. Riahi whose love and unwavering support made this possible for me, and my daughters Yasaman and Nastaran, Who encouraged me and patiently walked along this path with me. Abstract The aim of this study is to provide a comprehensive understanding of Iran’s foreign policy and behaviour, roots of continuity and factors of change in the regional context of the South Caucasus, using the case studies of its relations with two important neighbouring countries, the Republics of Armenia and Azerbaijan. To offer a picture of regional geopolitical context in which the subject is examined, the study will discuss the importance of South Caucasus in the international system, introducing the existing challenges and opportunities in the region, as well as important regional and international players involved, their goals and policies towards those goals. The study will also provide a review of Iran’s foreign policy in different periods and discuss factors resulting in different approaches undertaken in each period. The implication of these policies will then be examined further in the context of the Middle East, as well as South Caucasus. That is to demonstrate the specific strategies Iran has taken in each of these regions, and to explain differences between the Middle East policies and that of the South Caucasus. Case studies will provide a more detailed picture of how regional policies work and what factors shape the bilateral relations. Table of Contents Decleration ........................................................................................................................ IX Statement of Copyright ...................................................................................................... X Acknowledgment .............................................................................................................. XI Chapter One: Introduction ................................................................................................ 1 1.1. Introduction 2 1.2. Research Assumption, Hypothesis, Questions, Methodology and Ethics 6 1.3. Research Context and Significance 9 1.4. Conceptual Framework 23 1.5. Thesis Structure 27 1.6. References 34 Chapter Two: South Caucasus; Regional & External Players ..................................... 38 2.1. Introduction 39 2.2. Where is South Caucasus? 39 2.3. General Importance of the South Caucasus 40 2.4. Important Players in the South Caucasus 44 2.4.1. The United States ........................................................................................... 45 2.4.1.1. US Post Sep. 11th Involvement in the Caucasus ................................... 49 2.4.2. The European Union ...................................................................................... 50 2.4.3. NATO .............................................................................................................. 53 2.4.4. Russia ............................................................................................................. 56 2.4.5. Turkey............................................................................................................. 62 2.5. Conclusions 65 2.6. References 68 Chapter Three: Iran’s Foreign Policy ............................................................................ 73 3.1. Introduction 74 3.2. Historical Review of Iran’s Foreign Policy in the Cold War Era 75 3.2.1. Imperial Iran’s Foreign Policy: Outlines ......................................................... 75 3.2.2 Iran’s Post Revolution Foreign Policy .............................................................. 77 3.2.2.1. From Revolution to the End of War (1979-1989) ................................ 78 3.2.2.2. Rafsanjani’s Administration (1989-1997) ............................................ 84 I 3.3. Post Cold War Era 86 3.3.1. Systemic Changes ........................................................................................... 86 3.3.2. Continuation of Rafsanjani’s Administration (1990-1997) ............................ 88 3.3.3. Khatami’s Presidency (1997-2005) ................................................................ 90 3.3.3.1. Post September 11th Foreign Policy ..................................................... 93 3.3.4. Ahmadinejad Presidency (2005-2013) ........................................................... 95 3.3.5. Rouhani’s Presidency (2013-Present) .......................................................... 103 3.4. Conclusions 106 3.5. References 110 Chapter Four: Iran’s Regional Policy .......................................................................... 114 4.1. Introduction 115 4.2. Iran’s Regional Policy in the Middle East 117 4.2.1. Iran in the Middle East Security Complex .................................................... 117 4.2.2. Iran’s Middle East Policy in the Cold War Era .............................................. 118 4.2.2.1. Imperial Iran’s Middle East Policy ...................................................... 118 4.2.2.2 Iran’s Post Revolution Middle East Policy ........................................... 120 4.2.3. Iran’s Post Cold war Middle East Policy ....................................................... 121 4.2.3.1. Rafsanjani’s Administration (1989-1997) .......................................... 122 4.2.3.2. Khatami’s Administration (1997-2005) .............................................. 124 4.2.3.3. Ahmadinejad’s Administration (2005-2012)...................................... 128 4.2.3.4. Rouhani’s Administration (2013-Present) ......................................... 134 4.3. Iran’s Regional Policy in the South Caucasus 138 4.3.1. The South Caucasus: Separation from Persia, Autonomy under the Soviet 138 4.3.2. Iran & the Collapse of the Soviet Union ....................................................... 139 4.3.3. Importance of South Caucasus for Iran ....................................................... 140 4.3.4. Iran’s Post Cold War Policy in the South Caucasus ...................................... 141 4.3.4.1. The Case of Karabakh: Conflict & Mediation ..................................... 149 4.4. Conclusions 160 4.5. References 163 Chapter Five: Iran’s Relations with the Republic of Azerbaijan .............................. 168 5.1. Introduction 169 5.2. Azerbaijan’s State Formation 170 5.2.1. Brief Pre Independence History ................................................................... 171 5.2.2. Azerbaijan’s Foreign Policy .......................................................................... 178 5.2.2.1. Historical Review of Azerbaijan’s Post Independence Foreign Policy 178 5.3. Iran-Azerbaijan Relations 183 II 5.3.1. Relations with the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic (1918-1920) ............... 183 5.3.2. The Soviet Republic of Azerbaijan (1920-1991) ........................................... 185 5.3.3. Republic of Azerbaijan (1991-Present) ........................................................ 189 5.3.3.1. Early Years (1991-1993) ..................................................................... 189 5.3.3.2. Aliyevs’ Era (1993- Present) ............................................................... 192 5.3.4. Iran-Azerbaijan Relations: Sectoral Analysis ................................................ 198 5.3.4.1. Political Sector ................................................................................... 199 5.3.4.1.1. Territorial Claims......................................................................... 199 5.3.4.1.2. Opposing State Ideologies & Policies.......................................... 204 5.3.4.2. Military Dimension ............................................................................. 209 5.3.4.3. Societal Sector ................................................................................... 219 5.3.4.4. Economic Sector ................................................................................ 226 5.3.4.5. Environment Sector ........................................................................... 237 5.4. Conclusions 240 5.5. References: