Tehran and Moscow: Alignment and Divergence in the Caspian
June 9, 2021 Share
The complexities, converging interests, and persistent tensions marking Iranian-Russian relationships are evident in their policies toward the Caspian Sea region. Iran and Russia are the two largest countries that border the sea, the world s largest inland body of water. The Caspian region therefore provides many opportunities for diplomatic, economic, and military engagement between Iran and Russia. Some issues of mutual importance relating to the Caspian include the Nagorno-Karabakh War, the Afghanistan and Iraq conflicts, NATO partnerships in the Caucasus region, and the construction of trans-Caspian pipelines.
Iran and Russia doggedly pursue their own goals in the region, which align in some areas but not others. For example, policy makers in both countries do not want the other Caspian states to realize their goals of diversifying their trade routes and markets, which would decrease their rel
Circumstances surrounding the blaze on the support ship Kharg were unclear, semiofficial news agencies said. It went down in the Gulf of Oman, near the Strait of Hormuz.
The British-built fleet replenishment vessel Kharg, which measured more than 200 metres (more than 650 feet) long, caught fire on Tuesday off the port of Jask on the Gulf of Oman, the navy said.
Circumstances surrounding the blaze on the support ship Kharg were unclear, semiofficial news agencies said. It went down in the Gulf of Oman, near the Strait of Hormuz.