There is no document granting Iran 50% of the Caspian Sea — former ambassador

Former Iranian Ambassador to Azerbaijan Mohsen Pakain stated that there is no historical treaty or other legal document granting Iran 50% of the Caspian Sea.

According to him, such a share was not established even during the period of the USSR's existence.

"There is no documentary evidence that 50 percent of the Caspian Sea belonged to Iran and the remaining 50 percent to the former Soviet Union," the Jamaran publication quotes Pakain as saying.

He noted that Iran's delay in ratifying the Convention on the Legal Status of the Caspian Sea could weaken Tehran's position on issues of fishing, navigation, ecology, and other spheres.

In an interview with the publication, speaking about the parliament's consideration of the Convention on the Legal Status of the Caspian Sea, Mohsen Pakayin said: "The Convention was signed on August 11, 2018, by the presidents of the five littoral countries; the document is the result of 20 years of intensive diplomacy, 52 expert meetings, 10 meetings at the level of foreign ministers, and 5 summits held on it."

Let us recall that a few days ago the official representative of Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Esmail Baghaei, stated that the process of ratifying the Convention on the Legal Status of the Caspian Sea in the Iranian parliament will take place in the near future.

Baghaei said that the document has been signed and its legal, political, and other aspects have been studied.

According to him, on July 22 the Convention was approved by the government of Iran and submitted to parliament. It is expected that it will pass the ratification stage in the near future.

The Foreign Ministry representative emphasized that Iran makes decisions on joining international documents with particular care, taking into account all aspects. Such a process was also carried out with regard to this Convention.

Baghaei noted that the parliament's approval of the document will contribute to the development of cooperation between the Caspian littoral states and prevent possible misuse of this body of water by extra-regional forces.

He added that some issues causing concern among the Iranian public are not reflected in this Convention. According to Baghaei, the issue of baselines will be discussed within the framework of a separate convention.