Iran and I

My view of Iran is shaped by who I am – a child from the northern border. The relationship I have this with this complex and fascinating country I have never been to was and is rocky. It is a great civilization, with culture and tradition exceeding many others, the culture which saturates my veins. Forces of Islam shaped it but not remade it in the Arabic image, quite the contrary – allowed Persian political concepts of Kinghsip, its poetry, philosophy and science to dominate Islamic world for centuries . And in 16 century, the eternal underdogs of Islam found their refuge in reinvigorated Iranian state, which became a symbol of Shia Islam. Shia Islam, Zoroastrian tradition and Persian poetry unite this unique and diverse land.

Ten million Azeris live, and sometimes quite happily live, in Iran. They speak they way we do, they joke and think the same thoughts, they celebrate Novruz and pray same way. And yet I do not feel affinity to them, not even to those who loathe the current regime.

The events that led to our separation happened 150 years ago, when two Azerbaijans started their separate existence. Our orbit was first Russian, and is now Turkish, secular and broadly Pro-Western. Their orbit is Pan-Iranian, Persian and Islamic. Even as we pray, our prayers are not to the same.

At the same time I recognize that Iran is probably is most implacable enemy of our Turkishness ready to steer up trouble at any time to gain points, for that is what they did during Azerbaijani-Armenian War. Regime’s position towards Azerbaijan, whether it was secular one under Shah, or Islamic, under Ayatollahs is that of rejection. Now US may be steering troubles in Iran using its ethnic minorities, Kurds and Azeris, most of all.

Good example of these trends:

On March 19, 2007, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran joined President Robert Kocharyan of Armenia to inaugurate a gas pipeline to pump Iranian natural gas to Armenia.[24] Armenia is Azerbaijan's arch-foe. Likewise, in a Washington Institute for Near East Policy analysis, analysts alluded to reports that Israeli intelligence maintains listening posts along the Azerbaijani border with Iran.[25].

We should show prudence and continue our reliance on our strategic partnership with Turkey, without getting involved into a possible American foray into Iran. This participation would be repugnant to me and many of my ethnic brethren, another destructive and counterproductive American folly,which they have become famous for. Paradoxically though, tamed and pro-Western Iran will rob Azerbaijan of any strategic importance whatsoever with last shreds of sympathy towards us disappearing. All should remember how alliances are made and broken especially towards non-western countries . Great skill in the game of playing the enemies against each other is required for self-preservation and unfortunately our region is all about self-preservation.