Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said that security in the Caspian Sea is primarily a regional responsibility that should be ensured and maintained by the littoral states through coordinated mechanisms.

Axar.az reports, citing Iranian media, that Gharibabadi said the Caspian Sea is more than just a body of water for Iran and its neighbors.

“The Caspian Sea has historically been part of the geography, identity and relations of the peoples surrounding it and holds a special place in regional ties. The littoral states bear the primary responsibility for the security, stability and future of the sea. Iran and the other coastal countries support a ban on foreign military presence in the Caspian. The Caspian should not become an arena for competition or the presence of extra-regional states. It can and should become an example of a regional security system shaped by the countries of the region for the countries of the region,” he said.