The People of Southern Azerbaijan Must Seize Every Opportunity to Determine Their Own Destiny
Statement by the World Azerbaijanis Congress (WAC)
22:06 / 18.06.2025
Since its founding, the World Azerbaijanis Congress (WAC) has served as the voice and unwavering advocate of our compatriots living in both Northern and Southern Azerbaijan, as well as the Azerbaijani diaspora scattered across the world. We closely follow global and regional developments with a sense of responsibility and vigilance.
Conflicts and wars, increasingly justified under the guise of establishing a “new world order,” are expanding in scope and dragging entire regions into calamity. Alarmingly, they are beginning to reach the Turkic world as well. The growing confrontation between Israel and Iran is one such development that could result in highly unpredictable and dangerous consequences.
The tragic experiences of countries like Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, and Syria—where regime changes were implemented through foreign-engineered scenarios—are clear. These upheavals have devastated nations and, in most cases, have failed to fulfill the hopes of their people.
Tensions in our region are rising sharply. As Israel observed the international community’s inability to stop the war in Gaza, it shifted its focus toward Iran. What began as a military effort to halt Iran’s nuclear enrichment program has evolved into wider strikes targeting economic and informational infrastructure.
Iran, for decades posturing with belligerent rhetoric and calls to “wipe Israel off the map,” has responded with waves of rocket fire. Yet most of these attacks fail to hit military targets and, more alarmingly, often strike civilian areas and infrastructure—further worsening humanitarian conditions and raising global concern.
WAC is firm in its conviction that Iran’s pursuit of nuclear weapons poses a serious threat not only to Israel but also to the Turkic-Muslim peoples across the region.
It has been clear from the outset that the confrontation with Iran is not purely military—it carries a strategic political agenda and may ultimately aim to bring about regime change.
The territory stretching from Astara to the Gulf of Kangan is the ancestral homeland of Azerbaijanis. Historically, the country now known as Iran was a Turkic state. Today, more than half of Iran’s population consists of ethnic Turks, who live under the repressive control of a Shia fundamentalist regime. The World Azerbaijanis Congress has consistently defended the rights and freedoms of Iranian Turks and continues to do so. However, we believe that any change must come through the will of the people—peacefully and democratically—not through violence and bloodshed.
The regime in Tehran—detached from the global progress of humanity and weaponizing religion as a tool of oppression—has already accelerated its own downfall.
It is important to emphasize that, unlike Iran, Israel maintains friendly and cooperative relations with the Republic of Azerbaijan. While Iran—claiming religious kinship—has stood with Armenia, an occupying and aggressor state, for 35 years, Israel has never withheld political and diplomatic support from Azerbaijan. This sharp contrast illustrates the flawed nature of foreign policy built solely on religious affiliation—a simplistic and counterproductive approach.
Despite decades of political, moral, and national oppression by Iran, and despite its long-standing alignment with Azerbaijan’s enemies, the Republic of Azerbaijan has consistently sought peaceful and constructive neighborly relations with Iran. We at WAC fully support this principled and measured stance.
At the same time, the fate of Iranian Turks—particularly Azerbaijanis—must be the subject of serious reflection. Historical experience shows that the people of Southern Azerbaijan have, on four occasions in the 20th century, failed to capitalize on crucial opportunities—often due to betrayal and external deception. Today, they must seize every opportunity to determine their own future. Where there is national will, there will be international support. But without such will or a clear goal, no one will act on their behalf.
Whether or not war escalates, history teaches us that all empires eventually fracture. It is highly likely that, even following the collapse of the current regime, a new reactionary government may emerge in Iran—one that, again, fails to reflect the people’s will and merely serves external interests. Such a development would usher in a new era of suffering for the peoples living in Iran’s current borders.
Azerbaijani Turks—and all other oppressed ethnic groups in Iran—must not allow this outcome.
The people of Southern Azerbaijan must assess the situation realistically and take full advantage of emerging opportunities. They must exercise their right to self-determination on their historic lands. We, the World Azerbaijanis Congress, will continue to stand firmly with our Southern Azerbaijani brothers and sisters—now and always.
Signed:
Sabir Rustamkhanli – Co-Chair, World Azerbaijanis Congress
Firudin Parviznia – Co-Chair, WAC (Germany)
Nureddin Gharavi – Board Member, WAC (Germany)
Abuzar Baghirov – Board Member, WAC (Moscow)
Babek Mughanli – Board Member, WAC (Southern Azerbaijan)
Atilla Kaya – Board Member, WAC (Türkiye)
Ekrem Fevzi Terzioglu – Board Member, WAC (Iraq)
Adil Minbashi – Board Member, WAC
Zelimkhan Mammadli – Board Member, WAC
Aghri Garadaghli – Board Member, WAC (Southern Azerbaijan)
Esmira Madatova – Board Member, WAC (USA, New York)
Rahmat Rafat – Board Member, WAC (Belgium)
Rahman Abbasov – Board Member, WAC (Russia)
Kenan Aghazade – Board Member, WAC (Russia)
Nail Ahmad – Board Member, WAC (Poland)
Siyavush Mustafayev – Board Member, WAC
Khazar Emin – Board Member, WAC
Ali Aghayevli – WAC Representative in Europe
Samir Adigozelli – Head of Executive Office, WAC
Isa Turkoglu – United Kingdom
Esmira Asadova – Canada
Shahrouz Jangchi – United States
Tursunay Turksoy – East Turkistan