Iran Advances Regional Diplomacy: High-Level Cooperation with Caspian Neighbors
RASHT, Iran – In a significant move to bolster regional ties, Iran is hosting the first-ever International Conference of Caspian Littoral Governors in the northern city of Rasht, underscoring a core pillar of its foreign policy: prioritizing relations with neighboring nations.
A Strategic Gathering
Senior Iranian diplomat Seyed Abbas Araghchi opened the conference by expressing his delight at hosting the inaugural event and extended gratitude to the local officials of Gilan province for their hospitality. The conference brings together governors from the coastal provinces of all five Caspian Sea nations—Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Turkmenistan.
“Our neighbors are our priority,” stated Araghchi, emphasizing that this principle is the central axis of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s foreign policy. “We have plans and are making efforts to expand relations with our neighbors and utilize the vast political, economic, social, cultural, and even security capacities with them.”
Deepening Multifaceted Cooperation
Araghchi highlighted the critical importance of the Caspian Sea region, equating its strategic value to that of the Persian Gulf in the south. He detailed the long-standing collaborative frameworks already in place, including regular summits of heads of state and meetings of foreign ministers from the Caspian littoral states.
The diplomat pointed to Iran’s “excellent” and, in some cases, strategic relations with all Caspian countries. He specifically cited the Russian Federation as a strategic partner, referencing the landmark 20-year comprehensive cooperation agreement signed last year between the presidents of Iran and Russia. He also noted that high-level political and economic exchanges are ongoing with all regional partners, with plans for upcoming ministerial visits to Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan.
Unlocking Regional Potential
The conference also focused on tangible areas for enhanced cooperation. Araghchi outlined the Caspian’s significant potential in energy resources, transit corridors, and trade. He stressed that economic and commercial collaboration using Caspian Sea routes holds “extraordinary importance” for all nations in the region.
The potential for tourism development was also a key topic. Araghchi expressed hope that Iran’s northern provinces of Gilan, Mazandaran, and Golestan could become major tourist destinations not only for domestic travelers but also for visitors from other Caspian and Gulf nations.
A New Chapter in Provincial Diplomacy
This conference marks a pioneering step in Iran’s newly emphasized “provincial diplomacy,” an initiative aimed at activating the country’s provinces in international relations. “This is the first meeting where we are jointly holding provincial diplomacy with the provinces of neighboring countries,” Araghchi said, expressing confidence that it would be a successful experience. He added that similar joint meetings for border province governors would be replicated in other regions.
The gathering is expected to identify new, common grounds for collaboration, further solidifying the network of cooperation among the Caspian Sea neighbors.