Ehsan Movahedian, in an interview with the website of the Strategic Council on Foreign Relations, pointing to the expansion of cooperation by some South Caucasus countries with the Israeli regime, Turkey, and Britain, stated: “NATO is redefining the role of these countries as its strategic arm for influence in the South Caucasus.”
Movahedian explained: “The Republic of Azerbaijan has extensive cooperation with the Israeli regime in several areas, which is consequently coordinated with Turkey and Britain as well. While Turkey, as a NATO member, cooperates with the South Caucasus countries, the main direction is behind the scenes with Britain and NATO. The energy exchanges of the Republic of Azerbaijan with the Israeli regime and Tel Aviv’s military support for Baku are the main part of this cooperation; in such a way that 60 to 70 percent of the military needs of the Republic of Azerbaijan, including drones, radars, and missile defense systems, are supplied by the Israeli regime.” He added: “The Republic of Azerbaijan has defined its role in the conflict with Armenia beyond the level of the Karabakh region. The establishment of factories for manufacturing drones, warships, and missile defense equipment shows that it sees its main enemy at a level beyond Armenia, namely Russia.”
According to this professor of International Relations at Allameh Tabataba’i University, the continuous sending of weapons from the Israeli regime to the Republic of Azerbaijan during its 12-day war against Iran showed that Baku’s role for NATO is more strategic than a regional ally. Within this framework, the Zionist regime also tries to limit Iran’s role in the South Caucasus by inciting Pan-Turks and ethnic tensions in northwestern Iran. On the other hand, it is said that Turkey and Baku are the field implementers of policies designed by London and Tel Aviv. Movahedian emphasized: “The Israeli regime seeks to change the strategic balance against the Axis of Resistance by creating a front in northwestern Iran, and it seems that the Republic of Azerbaijan, as a strategic partner of Turkey, Britain, and the Israeli regime, plays a pivotal role in this path.”

Military Alliance and Geopolitical Ambitions
Regarding the military cooperation between Turkey and the Republic of Azerbaijan, he said: “Based on the Shusha security pact, a military aggression against either of these two countries is considered aggression against the other; therefore, in the event of a threat to Baku, Turkey and, consequently, NATO can enter the conflict. This mechanism has caused the Republic of Azerbaijan to feel more powerful, relying on the support of Turkey and NATO, and to have a freer hand in dealing with regional tensions.” According to him, “Turkey and the Republic of Azerbaijan seek to draw Turkic-speaking countries of Central Asia into this security framework as well, to form a kind of ‘NATO’s Turkish arm’ in the region. In this context, the Republic of Azerbaijan acts as a strategic hinge between Central Asia, the Caucasus, and West Asia. For this reason, it has gained double importance for extra-regional powers.”
Movahedian noted: “Baku seeks to use its position to facilitate the process of normalizing relations with the Israeli regime within the framework of the Abraham Accords and, at the same time, by playing a mediating role between Turkey and Tel Aviv, to pave the way for closer relations between the two sides.” He added: “The Republic of Azerbaijan even tries to create a moderate image of itself in the Islamic world by playing a symbolic role in the Gaza crisis and proposing itself as a peacekeeping force, and to reduce sensitivities regarding its cooperation with the Israeli regime.” This analyst also emphasized the importance of transit cooperation between Turkey and the Republic of Azerbaijan, stating: “Although this cooperation appears economic, at the strategic level, its security and military aspects are much more important.”

Geopolitical Competition and Iran’s Diplomatic Opportunities
Movahedian, regarding the interaction of South Caucasus countries with NATO, reminded that the Republic of Azerbaijan and Georgia have deep cooperation with this organization. Still, Armenia, due to its membership in the Collective Security Treaty Organization led by Russia, has limited participation. He added: “Given the war in Ukraine, Yerevan’s desire to distance itself from Russia and move towards the West has increased.”
Regarding the Azerbaijan-Kazakhstan axis, he said: “The two countries intend to increase their trade volume to one billion dollars and also have cooperation in the fields of energy, agriculture, digital, and transit corridors. Kazakhstan, as a landlocked country, seeks access to Turkey and Europe and sees the route through the Republic of Azerbaijan as suitable.” In Movahedian’s belief, “The stabilization of this transit route from Central Asia to the Caucasus is a threat to Iran’s geopolitical position and transit revenues. Because Iran has not yet completed its East-West corridor.” He warned: “If the Kazakhstan-Republic of Azerbaijan route is stabilized as a route for energy and goods transfer, Iran’s position in regional equations will be weakened.”
This university professor, pointing to Iran’s diplomatic opportunities to restore political and security balance to the South Caucasus, said: “Iran can create a new political-security axis in cooperation with Russia and Armenia. The three countries have common interests in maintaining the balance of power, confronting common threats, and preventing the expansion of NATO’s influence.” He suggested: “Tehran, Moscow, and Yerevan can hold joint anti-terrorism exercises by exchanging necessary information and possibly expand their cooperation within the framework of the Collective Security Treaty; Iran can participate in this treaty as an observer member.”
Movahedian continued: “To counter NATO’s direct influence in the region, the Iran-Armenia-Georgia-Black Sea corridor route must be established as soon as possible. Completing the North-South corridor on Armenian soil and connecting it to Russia via the Caspian Sea is of vital importance and requires modernizing the naval fleet and investing in northern Iranian ports.” He also described energy exchange among the three countries and the transfer of Russian gas to Iran via Armenia and Georgia as “vital,” adding: “Establishing a joint civilizational studies center in Tehran, Yerevan, or Moscow can strengthen interfaith dialogues and present a realistic image of Islam in Christian societies.”
In conclusion, Movahedian emphasized: ” Iran must utilize cultural, media, and public diplomacy to present an independent and indigenous narrative of regional security vis-à-vis the Israeli regime’s propaganda to influence in the Caucasus region.”