Iran to host Caspian Sea conference in Tehran

Iran is preparing to host a high-level conference for Caspian Sea littoral states in Tehran on September 23. Kazem Gharibabadi, Deputy Foreign Minister of Iran, announced the meeting, noting it serves as an opportunity to discuss shared interests, strengthen bilateral and multilateral ties, and foster constructive agreements through Caspian diplomacy.

In a related development, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ismail Baghaei stated that the government considers it an appropriate time to submit the Convention on the Legal Status of the Caspian Sea to the Iranian parliament for ratification. While four other littoral states have ratified the convention, Iran's parliament has yet to do so.

Baghaei noted that while there are various claims regarding Iran's share of the sea's resources, the Convention does not define a baseline, meaning specific shares must be determined through bilateral negotiations. Such discussions have previously occurred with Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan but were temporarily paused. Additionally, Turkmenistan has proposed a summit in Ashgabat on October 9 to discuss the Caspian Sea's environment and water levels, a proposal which Iran supports.