Iran moves to exploit age-old rivalries in South Caucasus

Iran FILE - Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze is photographed in Woodstock, Oxfordshire, England, July 18, 2024. In May, he found himself at the center of controversy when he attended the funeral of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi. (Jacob King/Pool Photo via AP) Armenia and Azerbaijan

As the West remains preoccupied with the conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza, Iran is seizing the moment to extend its influence into the South Caucasus — a region where age-old rivalries are being revived.