TEHRAN--The Iranian special representative for Caspian Sea Affairs, Mehdi Safari and Hojjatoleslam Bahrami, director of the Ideo-Political Bureau of the Islamic Republic of Iran Armed Forces, in a meeting attended by a number of high-ranking officers and military commanders, discussed recent Caspian Sea developments and Iran's stance on the issue. Referring to the importance of the Caspian Sea in Iranian foreign policy, Safari said that exploitation of the sea's resources is governed by a legal regime based on the 1921 and 1940 treaties signed by Iran and the ex-Soviet Union. However, he said, "We believe that in view of new circumstances and requirements it needs updating."

He said that the Islamic Republic of Iran considers the condominium concept as the best alternative to finding a legal regime for the Caspian Sea, and added that with the agreement of the other littoral states, Iran lays claim to a minimum of 20 percent of the resources in the sea's waters as well as seabed. Iran's representative in the Caspian Sea affairs further said that due to the self-serving interests of foreign companies, the projected amount of the Caspian Sea's oil and gas resources have been exaggerated." He concluded his remarks by saying "Iran places great emphasis on the Caspian Sea ecosystem."