Azerbaijan.US
The idea of a so-called “Greater Azerbaijan” is not a liberation project but a dangerous geopolitical myth promoted from outside, political analyst Elchin Alioglu said in an interview on the YouTube channel Prime Time Azerbaijan.
According to Alioglu, narratives suggesting that the United States or Israel are allegedly pursuing projects such as a “Greater Armenia,” “Greater Kurdistan,” or “Greater Azerbaijan” distort reality and mislead the public. He argued that such concepts are often used to manipulate national emotions and push societies toward risky scenarios that ultimately serve external interests rather than local populations.
Alioglu stressed that while the aspiration for an independent South Azerbaijan exists emotionally, no major global power currently supports the creation of a new Azerbaijani state in Iran. In this context, he warned that radical slogans and maximalist demands could expose ethnic Azerbaijanis in Iran to serious security risks.
As a more realistic alternative, the analyst said that broad and legally grounded autonomy – with cultural, linguistic, and administrative rights – represents a far more achievable and safer path at the current stage. He emphasized that such autonomy must be institutional, protected by law, and focused on long-term stability rather than symbolic declarations.
Alioglu also cautioned against calls for armed confrontation or direct external intervention. Any attempt to militarize the issue, he said, would give Tehran justification for harsh repression and could severely worsen the situation for Azerbaijani communities inside Iran.
Commenting on Iran’s internal dynamics, Alioglu predicted that political change in the country is inevitable, but underlined that the key question is who replaces the current system and under what conditions. He urged Azerbaijanis on both sides of the border to act strategically, avoid provocations, and not fall for emotionally charged but poorly calculated narratives.
“Rights and freedoms are not handed out for free,” Alioglu said, “but they must be pursued wisely, patiently, and with a clear understanding of the balance of power.”
In his view, slogans about “Greater Azerbaijan” may sound appealing, but in practice they risk becoming a trap that harms the very people they claim to defend.
