Rear Admiral Irani made the remarks on Tuesday at the meeting of naval commanders of the Caspian Sea littoral countries in Saint Petersburg, Russia. He was accompanied by the Iranian ambassador to Russia and a delegation consisting of senior commanders of the naval force.
Stating that the Caspian Sea is not a place for extra-regional powers, he said that countries along the sea themselves make decisions about this strategic water and will not allow outsiders to gain a foothold.
The Iranian commander, while expressing his satisfaction with the recent joint exercises in Bandar Anzali and the southern shores of the sea dubbed “CASAREX 2025” under the banner “Together for a Safe and Secure Caspian Sea,” also announced new drills involving the littoral states.
At the meeting, which is being hosted by Admiral Aleksandr Moiseyev, the commander-in-chief of the Russian navy, Rear Admiral Irani noted that the Caspian Sea belongs only to the five countries, including Iran, Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan, and its issues will be resolved by these countries themselves.
He further said that the Caspian littoral states are at a level that can ensure sustainable security and contribute to economic dynamism and solve environmental issues.
The meeting of the naval chiefs focuses on maritime security, joint military exercises, and countering smuggling, building on the 2018 Aktau Convention that defined territorial waters and resource rights.
IRNA