Azerbaijani

October 21, 2024 | Janatan Sayeh |

Leaks and spy rings merely delay the inevitable Israeli operation

Allegedly leaked documents from the US National Security Agency and the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, paired with Tehran’s ongoing intelligence operations, seek to disrupt Israel’s plans...

May 5, 2024 | Eyal Hulata, Natalie Ecanow

Iranian Proxies Wreak Havoc Beyond the Middle East

Azerbaijan and Pakistan are two lesser known victims of Iranian proxy attacks.

May 1, 2024 | Dr. Brenda Shaffer, Damjan Krnjević Mišković

The Azerbaijanis, Not the Azeris, Are Hosting COP29

The Republic of Azerbaijan will host the annual  UN  Climate Change Conference known as COP29 in November 2024. For many who will attend COP29 and follow the process, this will be their first...

December 2, 2023 | Emanuele Ottolenghi, Danny Citrinowicz

Latin America’s Hezbollah Problem

Hezbollah's presence in the region merits swift recognition and action.

November 21, 2023 | Ivana Stradner, Spencer Finley

The CSTO: With Friends Like the Kremlin, Who Needs Enemies?

Armenia’s snubbing of the latest Moscow-led summit may be the first indication that Russia’s allies are beginning to realize that the glue that binds is past its sell-by date.

September 22, 2023 | Ivana Stradner |

Russia failed to weaken NATO — but its own security alliance is now falling apart

Vladimir Putin has been candid about his intentions to dismantle NATO and discredit Article 5 of the alliance’s founding treaty, in which members pledge to defend each other from...

October 9, 2022 | Ivana Stradner |

Russia’s Sham Ukraine Vote Undermines Serbia’s Kosovo Claims

Vladimir Putin proclaimed Russia’s annexation of the Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhia Regions of Ukraine on Friday, Sep. 30, stating that they “are becoming [Russia’s] compatriots forever.”...

August 17, 2022 | Dr. Brenda Shaffer |

Iran’s policy toward the Caucasus and Central Asia

Excerpt Much of the analysis on Iranian foreign policy focuses on both Iran’s positonality in relation to the Middle East, and its claim to the mantle of Shia Islamic leadership. However, a more detailed...

April 22, 2022 | Dr. Brenda Shaffer |

Energy in Conflict: The Case of the 2020 Armenia-Azerbaijan War

Excerpt With the rise in frequency of hybrid warfare, combatants in various conflicts are increasingly targeting domestic energy infrastructure and energy supply flows.1 In conventional warfare, militaries...

December 2, 2021 | Emanuele Ottolenghi |

Iran’s Quest for Soleimani’s Revenge Goes to Latin America

Shortly after a U.S. strike killed Iran’s most senior general, Qassem Soleimani, in Baghdad in January 2020, both Iran and its terror proxy Hezbollah swore revenge. Nearly two years later, Iran and Hezbollah...

February 16, 2021 | Dr. Brenda Shaffer |

More than Just Friends? New Azerbaijan-Turkmenistan Agreement on Joint Energy Production in the Caspian Sea

On January 21, 2021 the Presidents of Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan signed an intergovernmental Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for joint development of the newly named Dostluq (friendship in Azerbaijani...

November 25, 2020 | Dr. Brenda Shaffer |

The Armenia-Azerbaijan War: Downgrading Iran’s Regional Role

The security architecture emerging in the South Caucasus following the war between Armenia and Azerbaijan led to significant changes for the region’s three main powers:  Russia and Turkey gained increased...

October 21, 2020 | Dr. Brenda Shaffer |

The Iran Factor in Talks Between U.S., Azerbaijan, and Armenia

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will host the foreign ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia for apparently separate meetings in Washington this Friday to discuss the ongoing fighting between their two countries....

October 5, 2020 | Dr. Brenda Shaffer |

Iran at Risk From Spillover of Armenia-Azerbaijan Clashes

Intense fighting between Armenia and Azerbaijan is taking place in proximity to Iran’s northwestern border, which it shares with both countries. While Turkey has sided firmly with Azerbaijan and Russia...

September 11, 2020 | Dr. Brenda Shaffer |

Iran’s Longstanding Cooperation with Armenia

Domestic Azerbaijani Opposition May be Rising

August 31, 2020 | Dr. Brenda Shaffer |

Iran’s Multiethnic Society Explains Why Tehran Fears Democracy

Iran faces the democracy conundrum: in multi-ethnic states where one non-majority group prevails over others, democratization entails risk of loss of empire.

July 1, 2020 | Dr. Brenda Shaffer, Svante Cornell

US International Religious Freedom Efforts Should Not Promote Islamic Extremism

The Trump Administration has elevated the promotion of international religious freedom to a major component of U.S. foreign policy. President Donald Trump issued an executive order devoting additional...

June 30, 2020 | Aykan Erdemir, Behnam Ben Taleblu

Declining Turkish-Iranian energy trade offers Washington an opportunity

Economic issues were high on the agenda for Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad-Javad Zarif, who traveled to Istanbul for two days earlier this June. Zarif’s visit to Turkey marks his second foreign...

July 1, 2015 | Emanuele Ottolenghi |

Snap-Back: A Journey Through Iranian Sanctions Evasion in Georgia

Two Iranian truck drivers sat idly in the parking area of the Poti Free Industrial Zone(FIZ), waiting for customs authoriti...

December 10, 2012 | Emanuele Ottolenghi

Iranian Influence in the South Caucasus and the Surrounding Region

Introduction On behalf of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, I would like to thank Chairman Burton and Ranking Member Meeks for the opportunity to submit written...