An international political debate on the relations between the United States and Iran, the possibility of a new military escalation, and its implications for the South Caucasus and Central Asia was held on Egypt’s prominent Al-Qahera television channel. The program featured Azerbaijani political commentator Ahmad Shahidov, South Asian affairs and international relations expert Ayanjit Sen, joining from New Delhi, and Anielo Ianoni, a lecturer in Indonesian politics and Southeast Asian affairs at the Department of Political Science and Governance at Diponegoro University, joining from Jakarta. The discussion focused on the potential impact of a U.S.–Iran confrontation on regional security, energy routes, and international transportation corridors.
During the debate, Ahmad Shahidov discussed the potential risks that a new military escalation between the United States and Iran could pose to Azerbaijan and Central Asian countries. He emphasized that Azerbaijan’s primary interests lie in maintaining regional stability, resolving conflicts through diplomacy, and ensuring the security of international transportation routes. According to Shahidov, serious tensions in the Strait of Hormuz could affect global energy markets, oil prices, and international trade. While such developments could increase the strategic importance of Azerbaijan’s Middle Corridor, which connects Central Asia with Europe, preventing the expansion of military confrontation remains the region’s most pressing priority.
The program also addressed Azerbaijan’s position in the event of a potential U.S.–Iran war and whether Azerbaijani territory could be used for military operations. Shahidov firmly stated that Azerbaijan has never allowed its airspace or land territory to be used for military operations against neighboring countries and will not permit such use in the future. He particularly rejected reports suggesting that Azerbaijan’s territory could be used in a potential war against Iran, stressing that these claims have no factual basis. Shahidov underlined that Azerbaijan supports resolving regional conflicts through peaceful dialogue and diplomatic negotiations. He added that the security of the millions of ethnic Azerbaijanis living in Iran is also an important concern for Azerbaijan. A large-scale military confrontation along the country’s borders could have serious consequences not only for Azerbaijan’s security but also for its economic and social stability. Therefore, Baku’s main priority is to preserve peace in its neighborhood and prevent the region from becoming a new theater of war.
