Iran-Azerbaijan Relations and Strategic Competition in the Caucasus

Despite common cultural and religious heritage, relations between Iran and Azerbaijan remain tumultuous. Issues ranging from the status Iran’s ethnic Azeri minority to the frozen conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh to relations with Israel all complicate bilateral ties between Baku and Tehran. Iran-Azerbaijan relations also shape larger geopolitical questions related to the strategic balance in the Caucasus and the role of major regional powers Turkey and Russia. With tensions over Iran’s nuclear program again in the spotlight, the CSIS Russia and Eurasia Program is hosting a discussion about the current dynamics of Iran-Azerbaijan relations and their regional and international implications.

Opening Remarks:
9:00 - 9:15 a.m.

Andrew C. Kuchins, Director and Senior Fellow, CSIS Russia and Eurasia Program

Farhad Mammadov, Director, Center for Strategic Studies Azerbaijan

Panel I: Current Dynamics of Iran-Azerbaijan Relations
9:15 - 10:15 a.m.

Farhad Mammadov, Director, Center for Strategic Studies Azerbaijan

Asim Mollazade, MP, Parliament of Azerbaijan 

Heydar Mirza, Leading Research Fellow, Center for Strategic Studies Azerbaijan

Alex Vatanka, Middle East Institute

Chair: Andrew C. Kuchins, Director and Senior Fellow, CSIS Russia and Eurasia Program

Panel II: Iran-Azerbaijan Relations: Regional and International Implications
10:30 - 12:00 p.m. 

Sergey Markedonov, Visiting Fellow, CSIS Russia and Eurasia Program

Nigar Goksel, Editor-in-Chief, Turkish Policy Quarterly

Lu Xiang, Visiting Fellow, CSIS Freeman Chair in China Studies

Chair: Jeffrey Mankoff, Deputy Director and Fellow, CSIS Russia and Eurasia Program