Armenia went farther than most of Iran’s neighbors, closing its border for two weeks. Azerbaijan, meanwhile, was the only country to have not closed its border with Iran at all.
The novel technique suggests that the government was struggling to manage the fallout from the disappointing results of the previous weekend's elections.
When the snap parliamentary elections were called two months ago, many expected them to bring in some sort of change. But the results are more of the same.
Ahead of parliamentary elections, a slate of young activists is trying a new tack: focusing on ideas and ideologies rather than on just toppling the government
In our monthly Russian business briefing: Uzbekistan dithers, Azerbaijan offers a backdoor to Europe, and the rocket that fell on Kazakhstan will not frustrate a new $1 billion test range.
Ali Hasanov was part of the old elite that has been systematically sidelined over the past two years in favor of officials associated with the president's wife.
The restoration has sparked arguments about whether the mosque should be considered “Persian” or “Azerbaijani,” and some locals question whether the Armenian-controlled territory should be rebuilding its mosques at all.
Will the new parliament be the same rubber stamp as the current one? Will it pave the way for the country’s vice president and first lady to take over?
Earlier this year, both sides appeared to be trying to turn down the temperature on their grievances against the other. But now the momentum seems to be going in the other direction.
