iran-azerbaijan relations: foundations of integration and sources of disintegration

since the collapse of the soviet :union: and the declaration of independence by azerbaijan, tehran-baku relations have been generally moving in the right direction with occasional ups and downs over the past two decades. factors such as cultural and historical communalities and the potential for economic cooperation have acted as impetus for the expansion of relations between the two neighbors. nevertheless, this bilateral relationship, from the viewpoint of azerbaijan, is confronted with discouraging obstacles and constraining factors such as the ongoing conflicts over the unresolved issues of the legal regime of the caspian sea, azerbaijan’s desire to join nato, and its relations with the u.s. and israel. despite some opportunities for improving relations between the two countries, challenging factors have put more constraints on tehran-baku ties. first, the author briefly examines the history of iran-azerbaijan relations, and then discusses the factors influencing their integration and disintegration.