Dr. Hamid Shahanaghi
The power dynamics in the Eurasian region following the collapse of the Soviet Union have opened a new path for redefining national and regional identities. At the center of this lies the emergence of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) as a rising power pole. Founded on linguistic, cultural, and historical commonalities, this organization has gradually transformed from a cultural consultative forum into an international institution with strategic, security, and defense dimensions. In this process, the issue of “South Azerbaijan,” referring to the Turkic-populated regions in the north and northwest of Iran, has become one of the most sensitive intersections of the OTS’s geopolitical interests and the national security of the Islamic Republic of Iran. A detailed analysis of the organization’s approaches reveals that the doctrine of “Turkic World Unity” does not necessarily stop at the political borders of member states but views “kin peoples” in neighboring countries, especially Iran, as part of the Turkic civilizational and identity sphere.
Historical Genealogy and Geographical Division of Azerbaijan
The concept of South Azerbaijan is rooted in the developments of the 19th century and the colonial rivalry between the Russian Empire and Qajar Iran. The Treaties of Gulistan (1813) and Turkmenchay (1828), signed following prolonged wars, divided the lands of Azerbaijan along the Aras River. This division split not only a geographical unit but also a single nation into two parts, known today as North Azerbaijan (the independent Republic of Azerbaijan) and South Azerbaijan (under Iranian administration).
Archaeological and historical research by the International Turkic Academy emphasizes that the presence of Turkic peoples in this geography dates back to millennia before Christ and that they played a central role in the formation of urban civilizations and political structures in the region. This historical narrative reinforces the ideological basis for the OTS to define South Azerbaijan as a part of the “historical homeland of the Turks.”
| Historical Event | Impact on Azerbaijan’s Geography | Identity Consequence |
| Treaty of Gulistan (1813) | Separation of northern regions of Aras from southern regions | Beginning of the political differentiation process |
| Treaty of Turkmenchay (1828) | Consolidation of the Aras border and final division | Formation of the concepts of North and South Azerbaijan |
| Azerbaijan People’s Government (1945) | Effort to establish a national state in Tabriz | Entrenchment of the idea of a national government in historical memory |
| Independence of the Republic of Azerbaijan (1991) | Emergence of the Kin-State | Revival of identity-seeking movements in the South |
Demands of the Turkic Nation of South Azerbaijan: From Cultural Rights to National Sovereignty
The South Azerbaijan national movement has transformed over recent decades from a scattered cultural movement into a political movement with organized structures and strategic goals. The demands of this nation, expressed by institutions such as the “Council for Cooperation of South Azerbaijan Organizations” (GATƏŞ) and the “South Azerbaijan National Statecraft Council” (SANCS), encompass a wide spectrum from basic rights to national sovereignty.
- Right to Education in Mother Tongue and Fight Against Assimilation
The most fundamental demand in all official statements of South Azerbaijan organizations is the end of the ban on education in the Azerbaijani Turkic language in Iranian schools. Activists believe that the Pahlavi and Islamic Republic regimes aim to gradually destroy the national identity of Turks through policies of “assimilation” (cultural homogenization) and the imposition of the Persian language. Deprivation of education in the mother tongue is described as a factor for academic underachievement, social humiliation, and alienation from cultural roots.
- Establishment of a National State and Right to Self-Determination
Many of South Azerbaijan’s political organizations, including the Azerbaijan Democratic Party and the Azerbaijan National Resistance Organization (Diriliş), explicitly demand the establishment of a “national, secular, and democratic state” in the geography of South Azerbaijan. This demand is based on the principle of the right to self-determination contained in the United Nations Charter, and its ultimate goal is stated as liberation from what they call “Persian occupation and colonialism.”
- Economic Justice and Distribution of Resources
Severe criticism of the exploitation of South Azerbaijan’s natural resources by the central government and the spending of this region’s wealth on military projects and the regime’s regional adventures is another main axis of the demands. The national movement demands control over local resources, an end to economic discrimination, and the reconstruction of the region’s destroyed infrastructure (such as the environmental crisis of Lake Urmia).
Organization of Turkic States and the Doctrine of “Kin Beyond Borders”
The OTS’s view of South Azerbaijan must be analyzed within the framework of the “Turkic World 2040” doctrine. Led by Turkey and Azerbaijan, the organization aims to create a politically and economically integrated space where Turkic-speaking populations outside the official borders of states act as instruments of influence and connecting links.
Samarkand Summit 2022: End of Diplomatic Silence
The Leaders’ Summit in Samarkand (November 2022) was a turning point in the organization’s official approach to the issue of South Azerbaijan. In his historic speech, President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan emphasized that “the Turkic world is not only composed of independent Turkic states” and that the organization must pay attention to the rights and security of millions of Azerbaijanis living outside the borders of the Republic of Azerbaijan. He specifically referred to the estimated population of 40 million Azerbaijanis deprived of the right to education in their mother tongue, remarks that directly targeted Iran’s sovereignty.
This speech signaled a paradigm shift from cautious cooperation towards “active advocacy for the rights of kin peoples.” Since then, the OTS has considered issues related to identity and language in South Azerbaijan as part of its official agenda for “preventing assimilation and preserving national identity.”
Gabala Summit 2025: Towards Security Integration
At the Twelfth Leaders’ Summit in Gabala (October 2025), the Organization of Turkic States took more concrete steps to consolidate itself as a Eurasian power pole. At this summit, the following concepts were emphasized:
- Unified Security Doctrine: Discussion on forming a “Turkic Defense Union” as a mechanism to protect the collective interests of the Turkic world.
- OTS+ Format: This initiative aims to expand cooperation with non-Turkic countries in the region and international organizations to increase the organization’s legitimacy and influence beyond ethnic borders.
- Management of Corridors: Emphasis on the Zangezur Corridor as a vital artery connecting Anatolia to Central Asia and challenging Iran’s geopolitical influence.
Zangezur Corridor: Strategic Confrontation of the Turkic World and Iran
The Zangezur Corridor project, planned to connect Azerbaijan to Nakhchivan and Turkey via Armenia’s Syunik province, is more than a transit route; it is a geopolitical project to complete the “Turan puzzle.” From the OTS perspective, this corridor removes the “wall” that had for decades stood between Turkey and the Turkic world in Central Asia.
Iran has strongly opposed this project, viewing it as a threat to its land border with Armenia and a tool for its own geopolitical isolation. Iranian officials have staged high-profile military exercises on the border with Azerbaijan to show that changes in international borders are their “red line.” In response, Ilham Aliyev has emphasized that this corridor is part of a larger network that could ultimately benefit the entire region, including Iran and Russia, provided they accept the new realities following the 2020 Karabakh war.
Cultural Diplomacy and Reconstruction of Historical Identity
Through its specialized institutions, the OTS is waging a powerful soft power war to reclaim historical identity in South Azerbaijan and other Turkic-populated regions.
The Turkic Academy, by compiling textbooks on “Common Turkic History” and “Common Turkic Literature,” promotes a narrative in which Azerbaijan is defined as an indivisible geographical and cultural unit. This research emphasizes that many ruling dynasties in Iran (such as the Safavids, Afsharids, and Qajars) were Turkic national states. This approach questions the historical legitimacy of the current Iranian regime, which is based on Persian identity.
The adoption of the common 34-letter Turkic alphabet based on Latin script in 2024 is a strategic step towards creating a unified information and cultural space. South Azerbaijan activists see this alphabet as a tool to break free from the “hegemony of the Arabic-Persian script” and join the modern Turkic world. This has particularly strengthened the connection between the younger generation in Tabriz, Baku, and Istanbul in the digital realm and on social media.
Responses of the Islamic Republic of Iran: From Diplomacy to Security Crackdown
The Islamic Republic of Iran perceives the growth of the OTS as an existential threat to its territorial integrity. Tehran’s reactions can be examined on several levels:
- Diplomatic Level: Summoning the ambassadors of Azerbaijan and Turkey in response to these countries’ statements about South Azerbaijan. Tehran has simultaneously tried to create a counterweight to the pro-Western influence of Turkey and Azerbaijan by joining the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and strengthening relations with Russia and China.
- Military Level: Holding the “Fatehan-e Khaybar” military exercises near the borders of Azerbaijan and threatening military intervention in case of changes to geopolitical borders.
- Security and Internal Level: Increasing pressure on activists of the South Azerbaijan national movement. Widespread arrests and heavy prison sentences on charges of “Pan-Turkism” and “separatism” are part of this policy. The regime is also trying to contain the influence of the national movement by creating fake opposition groups and instigating Turk-Kurd ethnic conflicts in the West Azerbaijan province.
Strategic Analysis: South Azerbaijan as a Global Variable
The rise of the OTS as a power bloc has transformed South Azerbaijan from an internal Iranian issue into a variable in international security. The organization’s influence in Eurasia has also attracted the attention of global powers:
- United States and the West: Washington views the Organization of Turkic States as a tool to curb the influence of Russia and China in Central Asia and also to pressure Iran. The Middle Corridor project promoted by the OTS is supported by the European Union for diversifying energy routes.
- Russia and China: Although both powers are concerned about “Pan-Turkism,” within the framework of a multipolar world, they seek to find common ground with the Organization of Turkic States (OTS+) to reduce Western influence.
Conclusion and Future Horizons
An in-depth examination of the evidence indicates that the OTS can no longer remain indifferent to the fate of South Azerbaijan. The “One Nation – Multiple States” doctrine promoted by Ilham Aliyev and Recep Tayyip Erdoğan views South Azerbaijan as a part of the Turkic world that must attain its national rights.
The demands of the Turkic nation of South Azerbaijan, including the right to education in the mother tongue, economic justice, and ultimately national sovereignty, align with the OTS’s grand strategies for creating a unified geopolitical space. While the Iranian regime seeks to contain this wave using security and military tools, the trend of integration in the Turkic world, from a common alphabet to military alliances, indicates that South Azerbaijan is at the heart of future transformations in Eurasia.
Regional dynamics show that in the event of any political instability in Tehran, the OTS could act as a natural and strategic supporter for the South Azerbaijan national movement. This highlights the necessity of revising traditional models of sovereignty in the Middle East and accepting the new realities of identity-seeking in the 21st century. South Azerbaijan today is not only a geography but also a laboratory for measuring the power and influence of the “Turkic Awakening” in the new world order.
