Iranian top diplomat opposes military presence of third countries in Caspian Sea

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian has voiced opposition to the military presence of third countries in the Caspian Sea, citing concerns over its impact on regional interests.

Abdollahian expressed this stance during discussions with Turkmen Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov, as reported by TASS.

In a statement released on the Iranian Foreign Ministry's Telegram channel, Abdollahian emphasized that efforts by certain third countries to establish military footholds in the Caspian Sea are detrimental to the region's stability and prosperity.

"Amir Abdollahian called the actions of some third countries to [ensure their] military presence in the Caspian Sea contrary to the interests of the region," the statement highlighted.

Furthermore, Abdollahian proposed the organization of the third Caspian Economic Forum at the level of heads of government representing the "Caspian Five" countries, namely Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Turkmenistan. This proposition follows the successful convening of the previous forum in Moscow on October 5-6, 2022.

Earlier on March 28, the Iranian Foreign Minister engaged in discussions with Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov, focusing on enhancing bilateral cooperation across various sectors. Abdollahian expressed optimism about the burgeoning partnership between the two nations, particularly in energy, transit, transportation, science, and technology.

"We agreed to strengthen cooperation in the fields of energy, transit, transportation, science, and technology. The volume of trade between the countries is increasing, and we expect explosive growth in the future," Abdollahian remarked to reporters following the meeting.

Additionally, Abdollahian revealed plans for Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi to undertake an official visit to Ashgabat in the near future, underscoring the commitment to deepening ties between Iran and Turkmenistan.