IDEOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF IRANIAN POLICY TOWARDS THE AZERBAIJAN DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC: ANALYSIS OF THE TURKISH FACTOR

The article examines the political bias factor in Iran’s attitude toward the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic (1918–1920) and the role of Turkism in shaping this bias. The study reveals that the geopolitical transformations of the early 20th century, the rise of national ideologies, and emerging state-building initiatives in the region conflicted with Iran’s security and administrative interests. When the ADR’s policies on national selfidentification, language, and cultural identity are compared with the existing ethnic and political dynamics within Iran, the Iranian government’s cautious approach to regional developments becomes more evident. By analyzing Iran’s diplomatic actions, contemporary press rhetoric, and the ideological discourse of the period, the article identifies the underlying causes of this biased stance. The findings demonstrate that the Turkism factor was influential in Iran’s regional policy; however, it emerged as a complex element shaped by multilayered geopolitical and domestic political dynamics.