Iran urges Caspian states to adopt new security rules

Iran believes the Caspian littoral states need to hold more consultations on security issues in the Caspian Sea, Iranian Ambassador to Turkmenistan Ali Mojtaba Rouzbehani said.

“We still have a long way to go to reach a mutual understanding on the method of determining the direct baselines in the Caspian Sea. Lengthy negotiations are continuing on more detailed but important issues, such as combating drug trafficking, combating poaching, cooperation in scientific research, and cooperation in monitoring and exchanging information on the environment of the Caspian Sea. More consultations are also needed in the process of supplementing and developing the agreement on cooperation in strengthening confidence in the military sphere in the Caspian Sea,” he said while speaking at the scientific and practical conference “Protection of the Caspian Sea Ecosystem: Regional Cooperation and Sustainable Development.”

The ambassador recalled that during the war with the United States and Israel, Iranian coastal cities and ports on the Caspian Sea also came under attack.

“In addition, not long ago, an Iranian commercial vessel was attacked by Ukraine off the coast of Russia. While expressing gratitude to the countries that responded to such actions with statements and took a certain position, it is expected that all littoral states will prevent their recurrence by clearly, explicitly and unanimously expressing their position on this issue,” the diplomat noted.

The conference is being held in Turkmenbashi, on the Turkmen coast of the Caspian Sea. It is dedicated to International Caspian Sea Day, observed annually on August 12.

By Jeyhun Aghazada