The «Сaucasian Guestion» in Iran’s Foreign Policy at the Beginning of the XVII Century

The article examines the Caucasian vector of Iran’s foreign policy at the beginning of the XVII century. as one of the most priority directions of the Shah’s foreign policy, Iranian-Russian diplomatic cooperation and interaction, as well as as the most important factor in ensuring the security of the Safavid state in the face of the threat of Ottoman expansion. During the XVI-XVII centuries, certain territories of the Caucasus were in the sphere of political influence of Safavid Iran, which managed to systematically establish control over Eastern Georgia, Eastern Armenia, Azerbaijan and part of Dagestan. A comprehensive study of the Caucasian policy of Safavid Iran during its military and political domination in the region allows us to identify historical patterns and trends of modern socio-political processes in the Caucasus and the Middle East. The study of the problem of delineating the spheres of political influence of regional powers in the context of the foreign policy strategy of Safavid Iran at the beginning of the XVII century. It requires a scientifically based analysis and objective assessment, since Iran traditionally demonstrates its activity in the region, develops cooperation with regional actors in the political, diplomatic, trade, economic and cultural spheres. The purpose of the study is to study the Caucasian policy of Safavid Iran, as well as methods and means of its implementation at the beginning of the XVII century. The scientific novelty of this research is determined by the introduction into scientific circulation of a wide range of diverse historical sources and literature necessary for rethinking and generalizing the content of existing theoretical, methodological and scientific approaches, comparative analysis of domestic and foreign concepts on this issue, as well as a systematic study of geostrategy and the Caucasian vector of Iran’s foreign policy in the period under review.