Iran calls on caspian sea littoral states to observe environmental undertakings

Deputy Head of Iran’s Department of Environment Parvin Farshchi emphasized the need for all Caspian Sea littoral states to avoid breaching environmental regulations and stop polluting the sea. Farshchi held Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan accountable for oil and gas pollution in the Caspian Sea due to their exploration, extraction and transfer activities. She went on to say that industrial pollution is threatening the Caspian Sea environment. “This pollution flows into the Caspian Sea mostly from Russia due to widespread industrial activities around Volga River,” she added. Farshchi said 60 percent of Caspian oil pollution comes from coastal areas. “A large number of old oil wells in Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan are no longer economical and they have been abandoned,” she said. The Caspian Sea is the largest enclosed body of water on earth by area, variously classed as the world's largest lake or a full-fledged sea. Caspian Sea littoral states consist of Iran, Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan. They have been debating their share in the Caspian Sea legal regime since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.