Iran’s Selective Ethnic Policies: The Political Dimensions of Nowruz Celebrations in West Azerbaijan

In the days leading up to Nowruz in Iran, a celebration took place in Urmia, the capital of West Azerbaijan province. The event had official approval from Iran’s government, which granted a permit for Kurdish groups to hold the celebration. However, despite requests from Azerbaijani cultural groups, no such permit was granted to them for a similar event. Unlike typical Nowruz festivities, which are rooted in regional holiday traditions, this gathering appeared to serve as a platform for Kurdish nationalist groups, rather than a purely cultural celebration. Meanwhile, peaceful protests and public events—whether about culture, the environment, or workers’ rights—are systematically shut down across Iran, often with mass arrests and heavy police presence. The Iranian government’s selective approval of this event raises significant questions about its broader political intentions.

This Nowruz event in West Azerbaijan appears to serve two key political objectives. On the one hand, it provides Iran with a tool to control the political activities of Azerbaijani Turks by empowering Kurdish nationalist groups in the region. On the other hand, it aligns with Tehran’s broader strategy of countering Turkey by amplifying the Kurdish issue. Iran has historically used Kurdish armed groups—many designated as terrorist organizations by other countries—as a geopolitical lever against Ankara, which has its own internal security concerns regarding Kurdish separatism. Thus, this calculated approach underscores how Iran simultaneously manipulates its domestic ethnic landscape while engaging in regional power struggles.

The rivalry between Iran and Turkey has intensified in recent years, particularly in contested regions like the South Caucasus, Iraq, Syria, and Central Asia. While both countries maintain diplomatic and economic ties, their regional ambitions frequently collide. Iran relies on proxy forces to exert influence, whereas Turkey pursues a more direct, interventionist approach. This ongoing competition has led to increasing friction between the two, with Turkey sharply criticizing Iran’s regional actions. In a recent interview, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan explicitly condemned Iran’s policies, citing Tehran’s role in destabilizing neighboring states through its support for militant groups.

While Turkey has not provided direct or indirect support for Azerbaijani Turks’ political movements in Iran, Tehran perceives even the potential for such backing as a long-term threat. To preempt this threat, Iran has aggressively suppressed Azerbaijani political figures through long prison sentences and extrajudicial arrests. At the same time, it has tactically used the Kurdish issue against them, allowing Kurdish groups to operate freely in certain regions while brutally repressing them elsewhere. This selective approach reflects Iran’s broader strategy of exploiting ethnic and sectarian divisions to maintain control. By selectively bolstering Kurdish groups, Iran aims not only to curb Turkish influence but also to neutralize both Kurdish and Azerbaijani political movements within its borders. However, this approach risks exacerbating ethnic tensions and damaging Iran’s long-term stability and diplomatic relations.

Iran has long relied on political and social engineering to manage its ethnic populations. By manipulating ethnic tensions, the regime has sought to weaken the political aspirations of both Azerbaijani Turks and Kurds, ensuring that neither group gains enough momentum to challenge Tehran’s authority. A key element of this policy has been Iran’s selective support and suppression of Kurdish armed groups. While these groups face severe crackdowns in some areas, in others—particularly near Azerbaijani Turkish-populated regions—they are granted operational space. As a result, this approach has not only deepened mistrust between Kurdish and Azerbaijani activists but has also prevented any political alliance that could challenge the central government.

This tactic also extends to Iran’s broader geopolitical strategy. Exploiting ethnic tensions serves not only as a means of suppressing domestic political movements but also as a tool against regional actors like Turkey. Tehran has used the Kurdish issue as leverage, especially against Ankara, which views the presence of Kurdish armed groups near its borders as a security threat. Nevertheless, this approach may escalate ethnic hostilities and lead to violent conflicts, contributing to long-term instability in border regions.

As the possibility of a serious military confrontation between Iran and the United States grows—particularly with the shifting geopolitical landscape following the Trump administration’s return to power—the Iranian regime’s deepening reliance on ethnic divisions could have catastrophic consequences. Iran’s policies of playing ethnic groups against one another may temporarily serve its interests, but the long-term effects could be disastrous. The widening gap between Kurdish and Azerbaijani activists does not merely benefit Tehran in the present; it also risks fostering ethnic animosities that will outlast the regime itself. In the event of a collapse of the ruling establishment, the unresolved tensions it has cultivated could fuel prolonged conflicts, turning parts of the country into battlegrounds for proxy wars and external interventions.

[Representational image: Iranian Kurds celebrating Nowruz in Palangan in 2017, Credit: Keyvan Firouzei, via Wikimedia Commons]

The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect TGP’s editorial stance.