Iran Rejects Foreign Military Presence in Caspian Sea, Calls for Regional Security Cooperation
Iran’s deputy foreign minister says Caspian Sea security must be managed solely by the five coastal states, rejecting the presence of extra-regional military powers.
TEHRAN: Iran has reaffirmed that security in the Caspian Sea must remain the exclusive responsibility of its five littoral states, rejecting any military presence by extra-regional powers.
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi made the remarks while addressing an event marking Caspian Sea Day, stressing the strategic, historical and cultural importance of the sea to the countries surrounding it.
Gharibabadi said the Caspian Sea was far more than a body of water for Iran and its neighbouring states, describing it as an integral part of the region’s geography, identity and historical relations.
“The Caspian has throughout history been part of the geography, identity and relations of the nations around it, and holds a special place in regional connections,” he said.
The Iranian deputy foreign minister stressed that the five coastal states bear the primary responsibility for maintaining security, stability and sustainable development in the Caspian Sea.
“Caspian security is, above all, an endogenous regional responsibility that must be provided and preserved by the coastal states through their agreed mechanisms,” Gharibabadi said.
He reiterated Iran’s commitment, along with the other littoral states, to preventing foreign military forces from establishing a presence in the Caspian Sea.
“The Caspian should not become an arena for competition or presence of extra-regional powers,” he said, adding that the sea could serve as a model for a regional security framework developed by the countries of the region themselves.
Gharibabadi also called for greater cooperation among the Caspian littoral states to tackle environmental challenges, including declining water levels, pollution and the impact of climate change.
The five countries bordering the Caspian Sea are Iran, Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan.