The US is trying hard to exert influence over Iran, cooperating with the other countries in the region. After Russia and China supported the UN anti-Iranian sanctions, the position of Azerbaijan and Turkey is the top issue on the US agenda. Washington is worried that by cooperating with Azerbaijan and Turkey, Iran will not feel the difficulties of the situation in the country.
To prevent support for Tehran by its neighbours, the Obama administration sent the Under-Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, Stuart Levey, to Azerbaijan and Turkey. According to him, Iran threatens not only the countries of the region, but the whole world.
Bearing in mind the geographic proximity of Azerbaijan and Iran, Baku should be more wary. Levey's mission aims to convince the Muslim countries neighbouring Iran to support the West, thereby pressurizing Tehran. On the 19th of October Levey met with the leaders of the country and held a press conference after the meeting, where he expressed his aim: "We should develop common measures to protect the financial system of Azerbaijan from Iranian threats and attract more investment into the republic". In other words, the US proposes benefits to Azerbaijan, if the country stops delivering petrol and other oil products to Tehran.There are two reasons for such behaviour: firstly, Azerbaijan has strong ethnic and cultural connections with Iran; secondly, contacts between Azerbaijan and Iran have recently greatly intensivied.
The behaviour of Tehran is understandable. After the international sanctions, Iran is afraid of isolation and is forming a new policy in the South Caucasus. It is trying to be an equal partner in all the large-scale energy projects in the region. Moreover, Tehran is concerned about its own security, as Russian might use the Gabalinskaya radar station in conjunction with the USA.
Baku is not making any sharp moves against Iran, as it knows perfectly well that Azerbaijan has to have good guarantees to oppose Tehran. The situation might change after the November congressional election in the US, when, most likely, the Republicans gain a majority in Congress. In this case the US might pay greater attention to Azerbaijan.
The same may happen with Turkey. Relations between the USA and Turkey are much worse than they were two years ago. Turkey did not support the last round of anti-Iranian sanctions. Turkish prime-minister Recep Tayip Erdogan promised to treble trade with Iran.
All this will make Washington behave resolutely. And Stuart Levey is only the start of the US activities in these countries.
Elmira Tariverdiyeva, Baku. Exclusively for VK.
