Tuesday, October 5 2021 12:14

ArmInfo. As a result of geopolitical processes, in particular, the 44- day war in Artsakh,  the old order in the South Caucasus has died, and the new one has not  yet been born.  Director of the Caucasus Institute Alexander  Iskandaryan expressed a similar opinion to ArmInfo.

"It is clear that this whole situation is temporary. The new regional  status quo has yet to take shape. And it is important to note here  that this new order will not only concern relations between Armenia,  Artsakh, Azerbaijan and Russia All this directly affects the role of  Iran in our region. It is also clear that this role will no longer be  the same as it was before the Azerbaijani adventure in relation to  Artsakh, "he stressed.

In this light, the political scientist characterized all events,  results and post-war impulses on the border between Armenia and  Azerbaijan as completely inconsistent with the interests of Tehran.  According to Iskandaryan's estimates, the pre-war 140-kilometer  border with Armenia and Artsakh and the post-war 40- kilometer border  are completely different in terms of geopolitical formatting and  cannot but affect the regional role of Iran.

"It is clear that all this will lead to changes. It is also clear  that these changes are already in the process. As a result, the  Iranians are now trying to show extreme restraint and are trying to  determine their own actions in the new status quo and the maneuvers  of the Iranian military on the border with Azerbaijan are a  continuation of this process. This is one of the types of Tehran's  reaction to what is happening with the ultimate goal of strengthening  its own political positions in the South Caucasus as much as  possible, "he stressed.

On October 2, Azerbaijan brought the army to full combat readiness.  Iran, in turn, began to pull troops to the border of Azerbaijan in  mid-September. Reacting to Aliyev's indignation in this regard, the  Iranian Foreign Ministry said that the exercise is the sovereign  right of any state. And only a day before the start of the maneuvers,  Commander of the Iranian Army Ground Force Brigadier General Kiomars  Heidari, made an official statement, explaining the goals and  objectives of the maneuvers. Actually, this is evidenced by the very  name of the exercices - "Conquerors of Khaibar". The stronghold of  the Jews, the Khaybar oasis north of Medina, in 629 was captured by  the Muslim army led by the Prophet Muhammad.