TEHRAN (Mehr News Agency) — Iran's Special Envoy on Caspian Sea Affairs Mahdi Safari said on Monday that foreign forces are seeking their political goals in the Caspian region.

"This issue can threaten the process of confidence-building among littoral states," he added.

Safari in an interview with the Mehr News Agency highlighted the decisions made by the Republic of Azerbaijan on militarizing the Caspian Sea with the cooperation of the U.S. and the formation of a rapid reaction force by Russia.

"We believe the Caspian should be the sea of peace, friendship and cooperation. This issue is still regarded as the main axis of our dialogues concerning the sea," he said.

Safari stressed that any measure leading to military competitions and complication of the Caspian affairs is undoubtedly not in the benefit of the region and the littoral states.

"These measures will exercise negative influence on the process of maintaining stability, security and permanent economic development in the region," he added.

The deputy foreign minister further said that establishing security in the Caspian requires trust, understanding and effort from the littoral states.

The 12th session of the Caspian working group is due to be held Wednesday and Thursday in Tehran. The session will be attended by the deputy foreign ministers and special envoys of five littoral states.

Safari said that the session's main issue of debate is compiling the convention of the Caspian's legal regime. He added that the Azerbaijani envoy has spread news of possible bilateral consultations between Iran and the Republic of Azerbaijan on the sidelines of the session.

"Also on the sidelines of the Caspian's five-nation session, we intend to consult with each littoral state separately in order to reach a five-way agreement," Safari said.

He stressed that presently the five littoral states have different viewpoints on the issue of dividing the sea adding that no final agreement has yet been reached concerning the issue.

"Fortunately debates still continue and the littoral states intend to resolve their discrepancies through peaceful consults," Safari said.

The envoy added that Iran holds other five-way documents in the Tehran convention including fishery, shipping and meteorological cooperation.

"I hope that during the session we will once more reach an agreement in the interest of all the states," he said.

Safari said that signing the Tehran convention on the Caspian's environmental affairs was a successful and important step taken by the five littoral states.

He stressed that signing the Tehran convention proved that the littoral states could reach a fruitful resolution through counsel and mutual understanding.

"The convention also led the littoral states to attain a more hopeful view about the future of the debates," Safari said.