Amid disruptions on southern routes and growing uncertainty around the Strait of Hormuz, Iran is exploring opportunities to develop foreign trade through the country's north and the Caspian Sea. This is stated in an article published by the Fars news agency.
"In these conditions, a route that some experts call the 'Caspian Express' is gaining particular importance. This path could connect Iran via northern ports with Russia, and then with the Eurasian transport network, partially reducing the country's dependence on southern trade routes," the article notes.
It is noted that the Caspian Sea could also become an important route for importing essential goods, grain, agricultural products, timber, and raw materials from Russia and Kazakhstan, as well as for exporting Iran's agricultural, industrial, and construction products.
"In these conditions, the priority should not be to accelerate the approval of the relevant document, but to complete research and its comprehensive review. For Iran, the main issue related to the Caspian Sea is not only how much water surface or seabed area will be at its disposal, but also what share of trade, transit, and economic benefits the country will be able to obtain from the use of the Caspian Sea," the study says.