Baku: After the issue of ratifying the Convention on the Legal Status of the Caspian Sea was put on the agenda, certain circles in Iran sprang into action. These circles began making statements claiming that the ratification of the document would be against the country's interests. Interestingly, media outlets affiliated with Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), as well as organizations representing the conservative-radical wing, predominate among those providing them with a platform and campaigning against the document.
According to Azeri-Press News Agency, the Convention on the Legal Status of the Caspian Sea was signed on August 12, 2018, at the Fifth Summit of the Heads of State of the Caspian littoral states in Aktau, Kazakhstan. Along with the Convention, several important documents were signed, such as the Protocol on Cooperation in Combating Organized Crime in the Caspian Sea and the Agreement on Trade and Economic Cooperation between the Governments of the Caspian Littoral States. However, Iran remains the only Caspian littoral country that has not ratified the Convention, even after eight years, posing a significant obstacle to its enforcement.
At a recent Iranian Cabinet meeting chaired by President Masoud Pezeshkian, a draft on Iran's signing of the Convention was adopted and sent to the Islamic Consultative Assembly for discussion. This decision, made ahead of the next summit of Caspian littoral states planned in Tehran, highlights the socio-political significance of the issue. Notably, the government removed the provision concerning the boundaries of the sea and its seabed from the document submitted to parliament.
Following reports on the government's move, certain experts in Iran, especially those known for their anti-Azerbaijani stance, began openly campaigning against the Convention. Some arguments against the ratification include claims that Iran's 20% share in the Caspian Sea would be significantly reduced, and that the Convention would facilitate the implementation of the Zangezur Corridor, weakening Iran's geopolitical significance.
Mehr News Agency interviewed Ahmad Kazemi, who warned that ratifying the Convention would jeopardize Iran's national security and territorial integrity. Kazemi argued that the Convention would allow the laying of oil pipelines along the seabed, compromising Iran's strategic interests. He also criticized the naming of the Caspian Sea, suggesting alternatives like 'Kaspian' or 'Mazandaran.'
Despite the opposition, the official IRNA news agency rejected these claims, emphasizing the Convention's importance for security, such as preventing the use of the Caspian Sea for military purposes by trans-regional countries. Mohsen Pakayin, Iran's former ambassador to Azerbaijan, also stressed the need for ratification to strengthen Tehran's position in various areas.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei expressed support for the ratification, highlighting its potential to create a clear legal framework among littoral states and prevent external misuse of the sea. The issue has also attracted attention from Iranian politicians abroad, with Reza Pahlavi of the monarchist movement expressing concerns over Iran's current weak position in ratifying the Convention.
The strong opposition from influential groups like the IRGC and other conservative-radical members poses a significant challenge for the Iranian government. Whether the government can overcome this obstacle and secure the Convention's ratification remains to be seen.