Baku and Ankara Target Iran. What Will Russia Do?
The Iranian leader visited Azerbaijan, where he met with Ilham Aliyev and Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Recently, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian attended the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) summit held in Azerbaijan. Among many political figures, he met with Ilham Aliyev and Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
If this visit by Tehran is a "test" to understand the attitude of neighboring countries towards it under the new situation, then the goals of the leaders of Azerbaijan and Turkey are much more serious.
First, they tried to convince Iran to distance itself from Armenia and encourage Yerevan to sign a "humiliating peace agreement" that had long been drafted. Second, they tried to pressure Tehran to change its stance on the Zangazur transport corridor, which would not only connect Armenia with most of Azerbaijan but also link the Caspian Sea with Turkey and Europe through Turkey (and vice versa, connecting Central Asian countries and related countries). The third goal was to reassure Tehran, claiming they would not help Iran's enemies or incite regime change, although both countries actually do so. Azerbaijan openly cooperates with Israel, and Turkey does so as well, albeit in a more subtle manner.
Meanwhile, there are rumors of a fourth goal. It should be noted that the West views Pezeshkian as a "reformer" and believes he may make concessions, becoming a factor of division within Iran. Moreover, he is the first Azeri to serve as president, which can be exploited.
Analysts point out that all of Baku and Ankara's plans - they intend to establish the largest NATO base - the first phase targets Iran, and the second phase targets Russia. They say all of this is done out of fear of "Russian aggression."
Even if Baku does not plan to go to war with Russia, it seems to have already decided to become part of an anti-Russian encirclement, a new "quarantine belt." Therefore, Moscow is time to give up its illusions, because Baku has already made its final choice on who to ally with and who to oppose.
Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7526422708046053907/
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