Azeris

Azeris, or Azerbaijani people, are an ethnolinguistic group primarily associated with the South Caucasus. They form the largest ethnic group in the Republic of Azerbaijan and constitute a sizable minority in Iran, where they are commonly referred to as Iranian Azerbaijanis. Smaller communities exist in Georgia, Russia, Turkey, and in diaspora populations around the world.

Language and identity are central to Azeri culture. They speak Azerbaijani, a Turkic language of the Oghuz branch. In Azerbaijan, Azerbaijani is the official language and uses a Latin-based script adopted after the country’s independence in 1991. In Iran, Azerbaijani is widely spoken and written in the Perso-Arabic script, often alongside Persian. The Azerbaijani language links communities across national borders and underpins a shared literary and cultural tradition.

Religion among Azeris is predominantly Islam. In both Azerbaijan and Iranian Azerbaijan, Shia Islam is the majority, with Sunni minorities present in varying numbers. Cultural practices include music such as mugham, traditional dance, hospitality customs, and a culinary repertoire featuring dishes like plov, dolma, and kebabs. Carpet weaving and literature have also been important cultural expressions.

Historically, the region has been shaped by various empires and movements. The area experienced strong Persian, Turkic, and Russian influences, with the short-lived Azerbaijan Democratic Republic (1918–1920) followed by incorporation into the Soviet Union as the Azerbaijan SSR. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the independent Republic of Azerbaijan emerged in 1991. Iranian Azerbaijanis have maintained distinct linguistic and cultural traditions within Iran.