Abstract:

External factors strongly affect the relations between Iran and Georgia and the relations between Iran and Georgia are not developing on a straight line depending on the relations with the United States, Israel and Russia. Iran, Georgia, and Georgia are careful to not distort relations with the United States and Israel in relations with Russia. In August 2008, after the War of Georgia-Russia, the balance in the region changed. Iran has attracted the attention of Georgia as a cheap and alternative gas supplier. Russia’s recognition of the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia has caused concerns both in the region and internationally. Georgia has broken diplomatic relations with Russia. Georgia has expanded its economic relations with Iran to seek a new partner to weaken its dependence on Russia. Georgia also understood that it should strengthen its relations with Iran, the other powerful state in the region, against the threat of Russia, one of the major forces in the region. Iran saw Georgia as a way to enter the European markets. Georgia takes into account the interests of the West, Israel and the United States in its military cooperation with Iran. After the visa regime between Iran and Georgia was abolished in 2010, the relations between the two countries began to develop. It contributed to the development of cooperation in the fields of non-visum regime, economy and tourism between the two countries in the years 2010-2013. On July 1, 2013, Georgia unilaterally canceled the visa-free circulation with Iran in order to prevent the cold in its relations with the United States and Israel. After the U.S. cancellation of sanctions against Iran, Georgia reintroducted the visa-free regime on 15 February 2016 and the relations between the two countries in the economic and tourist areas were reinforced. Thus, if the war with Russia strengthens the relations of Georgia with Iran, Georgia does not want to break the relations with the United States because of Iran.