Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, Trump, Iran and Azerbaijan: how to be a good neighbour in a turbulent geopolitical context?

Abstract

Azerbaijan and Iran have a very specific and sometimes complicated relationship due to their shared history. Iran has more than 20 million Azerbaijanis and Azerbaijan’s population’s religious background is mainly Shiit-muslim. These factors can play both greatly positive and greatly negative roles in the relations of the two countries. Iran tries to keep balance between Yerevan and Baku. By doing so, Tehran is gaining access to the EAEU market and strengthening trade relations with Armenia as a supplier of natural gas. Due to the strong Russian presence in the Armenian economy, Iran could not get the share in the Armenian market it desires; however, there is an established cooperation on electricity and natural gas transfer between the two countries. In addition, Tehran maintains close ties with Azerbaijan. The countries try to do business in the energy and communication sectors. Iran tries to build the Astara-Rasht-Qazvin railway, which is supposed to be part of a bigger railway network connecting Iranian railways to Russian railways via Azerbaijan. As a result of this transport project, which is labelled the North-South transport corridor, Iranian ports in the Persian Gulf will be connected to Russian ports in the Baltic Sea, allowing goods from India to be delivered to North European countries.