“The security of the Caspian Sea is ensured only through the cooperation of [its] coastal states, and fortunately the littoral countries agree on that,” Mohammad-Mehdi Akhoundzadeh was quoted as saying in a meeting with local authorities in the northwestern Iranian border town of Astara.

“Foreign and alien countries as well as the ones which are out of the [Caspian Sea's] geographical boundary should not be allowed to get involved in the Caspian Sea's security issues as lasting security in the sea could simply be achieved through the cooperation of its five littoral states,” the top diplomat underlined.

He termed Iran's relations with the Caspian Sea coastal nations as “high-level,” and said Tehran attaches great importance to cooperation with the littoral states on issues related to the land-locked sea.

The Iranian deputy foreign minister then described Iran's common border with the Azerbaijan Republic as one of the “stable” frontiers of Iran, describing it as a border of “friendship and understanding.”

Akhoundzadeh underscored that the Iranian border town of Astara plays a key role in expanding trade and cultural ties between Iran and its northern neighbors.

After meeting local officials, Iran's deputy foreign minister left for the Azeri capital of Baku to attend an expert meeting there on the Caspian Sea affairs.