TEHRAN Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Thursday reiterated Iran's stance on the Caspian Sea regime, saying the sea should remain nonmilitary.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran, not only is against the militarization of the Caspian Sea, but also believes the waters should completely remain secure. Security makes it possible for the littoral states of the sea to exploit its resources," the Leader said during a march of military forces in northern city of Rasht.

He said, "In order to protect its national interests, the Islamic Republic of Iran has to strengthen defensive capabilities of its military forces in the Caspian region."

The Leader said the "main task" of the Islamic Republic's Armed Forces was to improve their "scientific and practical efficiency".

He said the country's armed forces, in line with their specified tasks, should work as a single united entity and complement one another.

Ayatollah Khamenei reiterated Iran's rejection of any bilateral accord that would allocate resources of the strategic Caspian Sea, saying the legal status of the oil-rich sea should be defined on the basis of an agreement acceptable by all five littoral states.

"The legal regime of the Caspian must be determined by all the countries around the sea. Bilateral accords cannot bind other states as far as determining the legal status of the sea is concerned," Ayatollah Khamenei told thousands of people on the third day of a tour of Gilan Province.

"On the basis of international law, the Caspian Sea should be shared by all the five littoral states and no foreign power can interfere in affairs related to the sea," he said.

Iran, Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan are the five countries bordering the Caspian Sea.

The five are scheduled to meet in the Turkmen capital Ashkhabad in October to decide on a legal regime for the waters.

The states have still to come up with a legal regime for the exploitation of the sea resources, particularly its rich oil reserves, said to be the largest after Siberia and the Persian Gulf.

The Islamic Republic has repeatedly indicated that it will agree to an equitable sharing of the sea's resources, which would give it a 20 percent share.

Iran believes that agreements reached between Iran and Russia in 1921 and 1940 are the most suitable precedents for deciding on a legal regime. The accords, it believes, will meet the interests of the five littoral states, foremost being the proportional sharing of the sea's resources.

Meanwhile, in another speech on Thursday the Leader said that, clear identification of targets and proper response to their questions and needs are prerequisites to spreading Islam and teaching religious sciences.

Ayatollah Khamenei said the country's youth are the clergy's main addressees. He said understanding their (youth) questions and doubts would help them find answers to their religious longings and would attract them to religious facts and sciences.

The Leader pointed to the complexities of mass communication and called for a systematic handling of religious discourse.

The customary and traditional method of defining and disseminating religion used by the clergy, i.e. their method of communicating with people at religious meetings, in Holy Qoran reading sessions and religious seminars are still applicable and highly effective, he said.

Giving due attention to such method of religious dissemination will enable the clergy and the scientific-religious strata of society to maintain their prestige, added the Leader.

Enemies of Islam and the revolution consider clergymen as obstacles in the way of promoting their interests in the country. For this reason, they directly or surreptitiously design conspiracies or spread lies against clergymen or influential figures within its ranks, continued the Leader, adding that notwithstanding such conspiracies the Iranian people still maintain strong links with the country's clergy.

He said the existence of large groups of clergymen in Gilan Province shows the depth of the provincial people's faith in Islam. The presence of vigilant, active and innovative ulema in various regions of the country is necessary, he continued, urging theological students studying in the various provinces of the country to return to their regions after ending their courses.

(IRNA)