Rasht – Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi declared that the Caspian Sea has the same strategic importance for Iran as the Persian Gulf, stressing that his country is deeply committed to promoting cooperation between its northern neighbors.
Speaking at the first international summit for Caspian governors in Rasht on Tuesday, Araghchi put Iran’s neighborhood policy at the center of his diplomatic efforts.
“Neighbouring countries are an absolute priority in the foreign policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran,” Araghchi told the assembled delegates. He emphasized that Iran shares borders with 15 countries and has particularly strong relations with countries in both the Persian Gulf and the Caspian Sea regions.
The minister pointed to Iran’s “excellent” relations with all of the Caspian Sea countries, noting that some countries have developed into strategic partnerships. “The relationship between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Russian Federation is a strategic partnership,” Araghchi said. “Last year, a 20-year long-term cooperation agreement was signed between the presidents of the two countries. Close political, economic and international exchanges are underway between Iran and Russia.”
Beyond politics, the conference emphasized the Caspian Sea’s important role in energy, trade and transportation. Araghchi identified these areas as “critically important” to all five coastal countries: Iran, Russia, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan.
Tourism was also highlighted as an important means for future cooperation. Alaghushi suggested that along with pilgrimage centers like Mashhad, the provinces of Gilan, Mazandaran and Golestan on Iran’s northern coast could become major attractions for visitors from across the Caspian Sea.
The event itself was an important step in what officials call “local diplomacy,” an effort to involve Iran’s local governments more directly in international relations.
“This is the first conference on regional diplomacy that we will hold jointly with neighboring states,” Araghchi said. “I believe it will be a valuable experience to extend it to (other) neighboring countries of Iran.”
Echoing the Foreign Minister’s views, Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Law and International Affairs Kazem Ghalibabadi also addressed the meeting, saying that the future of the Caspian Sea must be built on the foundations of “peace, cooperation, prosperity and win-win partnership.”
Mr. Gharibabadi detailed the vast resources at stake, from vital energy reserves to the Caspian Sea fisheries, which are fundamental to the region’s food security.
“As the world’s largest source of sturgeon, the Caspian Sea fishery requires scientific management, a concerted effort to combat illegal fishing, and a joint stock recovery program, none of which is possible without full coordination among coastal states,” he warned.
He called for the creation of joint mechanisms to tackle pressing challenges such as ocean pollution and climate change, and urged joint projects to transform the Caspian Sea from a region of potential to a region of real and shared prosperity.
The two-day summit, led by Iran and under the slogan “Caspian Sea, a bridge of friendship and regional development,” brought together delegations from Russia, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan, as well as governors from across Iran.