ST. PETERSBURG (Dispatches) – The naval commanders of Iran, Russia, Kazakhstan, and Azerbaijan signed a strategic cooperation agreement on Wednesday aimed at enhancing security in the Caspian Sea, a key region rich in energy resources.

The pact, finalized during a meeting in the Russian city of St. Petersburg, seeks to strengthen collaboration among the four Caspian littoral states in safeguarding the shared waters, with a firm stance against interference from foreign or extra-regional powers.

Rear Admiral Shahram Irani, Commander of the Iranian Navy, signed the agreement on behalf of Tehran and said the Caspian Sea “belongs to five littoral countries” and that security matters should be handled solely by these states.

“This sea is not a place where there is room for maneuvering by extra-regional powers,” Irani said during a naval commanders’ meeting on Tuesday, underscoring the shared objective of maintaining regional maritime security.
The agreement comes amid growing military cooperation between Iran and Russia in the Caspian Sea, which holds an estimated $3 trillion in energy reserves and remains a strategic hub for regional power dynamics.
In July, the Iranian and Russian navies conducted a three-day joint search-and-rescue exercise, CASAREX 2025, emphasizing their commitment to a “Safe and Secure Caspian Sea.”
The pact highlights the littoral states’ intention to exclude outside powers from involvement in the Caspian, reaffirming a collective approach to regional security.