Victor Ivanov, head of Russia’s Counter Narcotics Office, said, “By signing this document, Iran and Russia will be able to control the passage of 1,500 vessels in the Caspian Sea.” Iran did not explain why it was signing this bilateral agreement with Russia when for two decades it has said any policy dealing with the Caspian must be agreed to by all five coastal states. It has used that position to foil all sorts of policies the other four states have wanted to apply in the Caspian.
