The Talks

Iran has sent a delegation headed by president’s special envoy, Mahdi Safari, to Azerbajijan to negotiate the controversial Caspian Sea legal regime, according to the Azeri Ambassador to Tehran, Abbasali Hasanov. The five Caspian Sea littoral states have several times discussed the issue but have come to no certain conclusion yet due to the differences they have regarding how to share the sea. Iran backs a proposal that would apply for the division of the sea into five equal sections –- 20 percent -- but other four states believe that Iran should enjoy less. So far, the littoral states have announced their positions only and have not offered any possible solution, said the Azeri ambassador. Iran also backs the idea of demilitarization of the sea and protection of the environment in the region. Caspian Sea is located in north of Iran and surrounded by Azerbaijan, Russia, Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan. It holds rich oil and gas resources that are achievable for the European and Far Eastern markets via Iran’s territory.