Frequent visits of Iranian high ranking officials to the South Caucasus, in particular Armenia and Azerbaijan testify to intensification of Tehran’s regional policy, Andrey Areshev, the Deputy Director General, Russian Strategic Culture Foundation, told NEWS.am. Intensification of regional policy should be regarded in the context of activities of Russia, U.S. and Europe, as well as escalation of situation over Iran itself, he added.

According to him, against the background of tensed Russian-Iranian relations and constant threats to toughen sanctions, Iran naturally tries to increase its economic and political influence on the South Caucasus. “In the context of rumors about possible deployment of peacekeepers in the Karabakh conflict zone, threats concerning outbreak of hostilities against Iran when regional states can be used as a foothold, Tehran tries to enlist support of regional countries,” Areshev said, adding that Iran tries to show that their support to hostilities will get an adequate response.

Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani is presently on a visit to Armenia. Iranian Energy Minister Majid Namjou is expected to visit Armenia on Oct. 14. Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan will leave for Tehran on Oct. 25.

Iranian Defense Minister Ahmad Vahidi will visit Azerbaijan this October. Visits of Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani and country’s president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to Azerbaijan are expected as well.