Iran’s Security Policy in the Caspian Region

Abstract

The Caspian region is a strategically important area in the world. Before the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Caspian Sea was divided between Iran and the USSR under an agreement. The article examines Iran’s foreign policy and security approach in the Caspian Sea, with a focus on the goals pursued by the Islamic Republic of Iran in this regard and the measures taken. The article uses the problem-chronological method, content analysis and event analysis. As a result, it was revealed that Iran pursued the goal of achieving an equal, from its point of view, distribution of the Caspian Sea waters, defending its point of view at the summits of the Caspian states, but the exact percentage of the waters belonging to Iran has not yet been determined, which largely determines the delay of the Iranian side in ratifying the Convention on the Legal Status of the Caspian Sea. However, Iran is generally satisfied with the agreements reached with the Caspian countries in the field of security and the prevention of foreign military presence in the Caspian.

Keywords

• caspian region
• iran
• security policy
• terrorism
• border control
• strategic interests
• regional security