Iran hopes to host Caspian states summit

Tehran, despite the escalation of tensions in the Middle East following the start of the war between the United States and Israel against Iran, hopes to host a summit of Caspian region countries on August 12.

This was stated by Iran's Ambassador to Kazakhstan, Ali Akbar Joukar.

"I am pleased to announce that the Islamic Republic of Iran will host the seventh summit of Caspian states in August 2026. We hope that on the International Day of the Caspian Sea (celebrated on August 12 - ed. TASS) and coinciding with the 20th anniversary of the entry into force of the Tehran Convention, we will have the honor of hosting the presidents of the Caspian states in Tehran," he said, speaking at a thematic session on Caspian ecology issues at the Regional Environmental Summit held in Astana.

August 12 marks the International Day of the Caspian Sea. This date symbolizes the joint achievements of the five Caspian states - Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Turkmenistan. On this day in 2006, the Framework Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Caspian Sea (Tehran Convention) came into effect. The sixth summit took place in 2022 in Ashgabat.

The United States and Israel began a war against Iran on February 28. On April 7, U.S. President Donald Trump announced a two-week mutual ceasefire with the Islamic Republic. On April 11, Tehran and Washington held talks in Islamabad, but the parties failed to reach an agreement on long-term conflict resolution due to a number of disagreements. On April 21, the U.S. President announced his intention to extend the ceasefire regime with Iran. According to Iranian state television, Tehran does not intend to recognize the unilaterally declared extension of the ceasefire regime by Washington and will act in accordance with its own interests.

Source: TASS