Transformation of the Foreign Policy Strategy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the South Caucasus

The article is devoted to the theoretical and methodological analysis of the transformation of the foreign policy strategy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the South Caucasus during 1991–2025. The relevance is determined by the need to understand long-term trends in Iranian diplomacy amid radical changes in the regional balance of power after the Second Karabakh War of 2020, the weakening of Russia’s positions, the strengthening of Turkey and Azerbaijan, and active Western involvement in regional affairs. Based on chronological and comparative analysis, three key stages of evolution are identified: ideological enthusiasm in the post-Soviet period (1990s), formation and refinement of the hybrid model (2001–2020), and forced adaptation to new realities after 2020.
It is shown that permanent factors include protection of territorial integrity from pan-Turkism, ensuring the North–South corridor, and countering Western influence, while variable factors (sanctions, shifts in regional configuration, domestic political changes in Armenia and Azerbaijan) force Tehran to constantly adjust its toolkit.

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