Iran Azerbaijan or Azarbaijan .Persian: آذربایجان; Āzarbāijān; Azerbaijani: آذربایجان , Kurdish: Azirbaycan/Adirbaycan
also Iranian Azerbaijan, Iranian Azarbaijan, Persian Azerbaijan or Persian Azarbaijan (Persian: آذربایجان ایران; Āzarbāijān-e Irān), is a region in northwestern Iran. It is also historically known as Atropatene and Aturpatakan
(Azerbaijani language: گوني آذربایجان, Güney Azərbaycan);[1][2] however, some sources view these terms as being incorrect and politically motivated.[3][4] For more information see the article History of the name Azerbaijan.
Iranian Azerbaijan is generally considered the northwest portion of Iran compromising the provinces of Zanjan, East Azerbaijan, West Azerbaijan and Ardabil. It shares borders with the Republic of Azerbaijan,[11] Armenia, Turkey, and Iraq and a population of about 8 million(1996). Azerbaijan is famous for its great natural beauty. There are 17 rivers and two lakes in the region. Cotton, nuts, textiles, tea, machinery and electrical equipments are main industries. The northern, alpine region, which includes Lake Urmia, is mountainous, with deep valleys and fertile lowlands.
Safavid, Afghan interlude, Afshars and Qajar
It was out of Ardabil (ancient Artavilla) that the Safavid dynasty arose to renew the state of Persia and establish Shi'ism as the official religion of Iran. After 1502, Azarbaijan became the chief bulwark and military based of the Safavids. In the meantime, between 1514 and 1603, the Ottomans frequently occupied Tabriz and other parts of the province. The Safavid control was restored by Shah Abbas but during the Afghan invasion (1722-8) the Ottomans recaptured Azerbaijan and other western provinces of Iran, until Nadir Shah expelled them. In the beginning of the reign of Karim Khan Zand, the Afghan Azad Khan revolted in Azerbaijan and later the Dumbuli Kurds of khoy and other tribal chiefs ruled various parts of the territory. With the advent of the Qajars, Azerbaijan became the traditional residence of the heirs-apparent. At this time, the final northern frontier of Iran with Russia (along the Araxes) was established in 1828 (Turkmanchay Treaty). After 1905 the representatives of Azerbaijan were very active in the Iranian Constitutional Revolution.
[edit] Modern Period
The Russian (Tsarist) army occupied Iranian Azerbaijan in 1909, and again in 1912-1915 period,the Bolshevik forces occupied Iranian Azerbaijan and other parts of Iran in 1920-1921,[16], and the Soviet forces occupied Iranian Azerbaijan in 1941, createing a very short-lived autonomous, Soviet-supported state in May 1946, which was dissolved after reunification of Iranian Azerbaijan with Iran in November of the same year.[17] . Azerbaijani provinces have played a major in the cultural and economic life of Iran in both the Pahlavi era as well as the Islamic revolution.
BY. PERSIAN AMRMED FORCES. PAFMILAD