Former Iranian Ambassador to Azerbaijan Mohsen Pakayin has said there is no historical treaty or other legal document granting Iran a 50% share of the Caspian Sea, BR reported.
Pakayin said claims that Iran has a historical right to half of the Caspian Sea were never officially established, including during the Soviet period.
The former diplomat argued that there is no basis in treaty law for Tehran to claim half of the sea.
His comments come amid recurring debate over how the Caspian Sea should be divided and how the rights of its five littoral states should be defined.
Pakayin urged Iran to ratify the Convention on the Legal Status of the Caspian Sea, signed in 2018 by Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia and Turkmenistan.
He warned that continued delays in ratifying the convention could make it harder for Tehran to defend its interests in the Caspian region.
Those interests include fishing, navigation, biological resources, environmental protection and other areas of cooperation among the five coastal states.
The former ambassador’s remarks are notable because they challenge the frequently cited argument that Iran historically controlled or was entitled to half of the Caspian Sea.
Pakayin instead emphasized that questions surrounding the Caspian should be addressed through existing international agreements and legal frameworks.
In his view, ratifying the 2018 convention would give Iran a clearer legal basis for protecting its interests while creating a more stable framework for cooperation with Azerbaijan and the other Caspian states.
The comments could add a new dimension to the long-running debate over the legal status and division of the Caspian Sea, particularly as the five littoral countries continue to develop their economic, energy and security interests in the region.