President Pezeshkian's Baku visit is a signal from Iran to recalibrate relations with Azerbaijan Article by Iran International

The London-based Persian-language television channel, Iran International, has published an article dedicated to the visit of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian to Baku. Caliber.Az presents to its readers an adapted version of the article.

The Iranian president’s visit to Azerbaijan, soon to be followed by the Israeli prime minister's trip, highlights Baku’s sophisticated geopolitical manoeuvring as Tehran and Tel Aviv vie for influence in the strategically vital South Caucasus. It is a region where energy corridors, security alignments, and infrastructure ambitions increasingly converge.

President Masoud Pezeshkian’s trip—the first by an Iranian president since 2022—marks a cautious effort to mend a strained relationship.

Restoring Iran-Azerbaijan ties

Relations between Iran and Azerbaijan deteriorated after the attack on the Azerbaijani embassy in Tehran in 2023, which resulted in the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry evacuating embassy staff from Tehran and the embassy's activities being suspended.

Another flashpoint is the Zangezur Corridor, a route that will connect mainland Azerbaijan with Nakhchivan via Armenia. Iran opposes the project, viewing it as a threat to its regional influence and access to Armenia. However, signs of détente include joint Iranian-Azerbaijani naval drills in the Caspian Sea in late 2024 and progress on the North-South Transport Corridor with Russia.

While the Zangezur dispute remains unresolved, Pezeshkian’s visit focuses on practical cooperation, particularly in energy, rather than contentious territorial issues.

Israel's strategic countermove

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s upcoming visit reflects Israel’s intention to bolster Azerbaijan’s role as a regional partner amid escalating tensions with Iran. The timing of this trip appears as a direct counter to Tehran's outreach.

One of the key goals of Netanyahu’s visit is to use Azerbaijan’s mediation to ease tensions between Israel and Türkiye. Expanding the Abraham Accords to include Azerbaijan remains a long-term goal.

Competing regional visions

These high-profile visits reflect a broader contest for influence across the South Caucasus.

Türkiye and Israel favour the Zangezur Corridor as a means to enhance connectivity and weaken Iranian leverage, while Iran views the project as a direct challenge to its regional role.

Israel has consistently backed Azerbaijan’s position in the Karabakh conflict. In Syria, Israel and Türkiye seek to curb Iranian entrenchment. Armenia’s gradual alignment with the West further deepens Tehran’s strategic anxiety.

For Israel, Azerbaijan offers a critical hub for intelligence gathering and diversification of energy supplies, anchoring its evolving South Caucasus strategy.

Pezeshkian’s visit signals Iran’s pragmatic attempt to recalibrate its relationship with Azerbaijan after years of estrangement. It is less a breakthrough than a tactical reassessment in response to shifting regional dynamics.

Netanyahu’s impending trip adds another layer to the strategic competition, reinforcing Azerbaijan’s emergence as a pivotal mediator between rival powers.

Ultimately, the interaction between these two visits will shape not only the future of Iran-Azerbaijan ties but also the broader geopolitical realignment underway in the South Caucasus.