A quiet shift is underway in the South Caucasus, one with potentially far-reaching consequences. Iran, increasingly isolated on the world stage, is forging deeper connections with the Republic of Georgia, a nation once firmly aligned with the West. This isn’t a simple diplomatic exchange; it’s a calculated expansion of influence, raising alarms in Washington and among those who champion Georgia’s pro-Western trajectory.
Former Georgian Parliament member Giorgi Kandelaki warns of a vast, meticulously constructed Iranian infrastructure within Georgia. This network, he asserts, includes entities linked to extremism and directly connected to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The implications are stark: a once-reliable U.S. ally is subtly, yet decisively, tilting towards Tehran, a move Kandelaki believes jeopardizes both Georgian sovereignty and U.S. interests.
Despite maintaining a façade of diplomatic neutrality, Georgia is becoming a critical node in Iran’s operations. Intelligence networks are reportedly penetrating Georgian institutions – religious centers, universities, and cultural organizations – subtly reshaping the nation’s social fabric. This isn’t a sudden development; the groundwork was laid years ago, with the establishment of Iranian-backed institutions designed to spread a specific ideology.
In 2007, Iran opened the Georgian branch of Al-Mustafa University, a key instrument for disseminating the teachings of Ayatollah Khomeini globally. U.S. authorities have identified this university as a recruitment hub for the IRGC-Quds Force, and a conduit for Iran’s ideological and security ambitions. It’s alleged that the university has even been used to gather intelligence on Western visitors and cultivate sources within foreign universities.
The scale of Al-Mustafa University’s operations is staggering, with an estimated annual budget of $100 million and a network of tens of thousands of emissaries worldwide. But the Iranian influence extends beyond ideological indoctrination. Evidence suggests Iran has utilized individuals within Georgia to carry out international crimes, furthering its agenda on foreign soil.
In 2022, a Georgian national with ties to organized crime was allegedly recruited by the Quds Force to assassinate a Jewish leader in Azerbaijan. More recently, in 2025, another Georgian citizen received a 25-year prison sentence in New York for attempting to assassinate Masih Alinejad, a prominent Iranian activist and vocal critic of the regime. These incidents paint a disturbing picture of Iran’s willingness to operate in the shadows.
Georgia’s historical trajectory was markedly different. Following the Rose Revolution in 2003, Tbilisi actively cultivated strong political and security ties with the United States, becoming a vital partner in the Black Sea region. Georgia contributed troops to missions in Iraq and Afghanistan, and formalized its commitment to the West with a Strategic Partnership Charter in 2009.
The shift towards Iran began to accelerate with the rise of the Georgian Dream party in 2012. This trend solidified after the 2024 presidential election, which saw the pro-Western Salome Zourabichvili replaced by Mikheil Kavelashvili, a figure reportedly favored by Georgian Dream supporters. Concerns over irregularities in the parliamentary elections further fueled anxieties about Georgia’s democratic backsliding.
High-level diplomatic engagements underscore the growing bond. Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze attended both the funeral of Iranian President Ibrahim Raisi and the inauguration of his successor, Masoud Pezeshkian, with both leaders publicly praising the strengthening relationship. These gestures signal a clear willingness to prioritize ties with Tehran.
Crucially, Georgia has become a significant importer of Iranian oil and petroleum products, providing a vital economic lifeline to the Iranian regime. In 2024 alone, Iranian oil exports generated approximately $43 billion in revenue, representing 57% of the country’s total exports. Dozens of Georgian companies are involved in this trade, including some with direct links to donors of the ruling Georgian Dream party.
According to national security analyst Nicholas Chkhaidze, Georgia has become Iran’s “primary sanctions-evasion hub.” These companies, he explains, conduct transactions in cash, effectively bypassing international banking sanctions and funneling crucial funds to Tehran’s war machine and the IRGC. The scale of this operation is described as “massive,” with the revenue directly supporting Iran’s regional activities.
The implications of this evolving relationship are profound. Georgia’s turn towards Iran represents a strategic setback for the United States and a potential threat to regional stability. The quiet erosion of a once-strong alliance raises critical questions about the future of the South Caucasus and the broader geopolitical landscape.
