The strategic significance of the Caspian Sea for Russia and Iran
The Caspian Sea, recognized as the globe's biggest inland water body, has emerged as a vital strategic path for both Iran and Russia. This sea offers an economic channel that remains mostly protected from the reach of Western military forces. Through this route, both nations—Russia, currently in conflict with Ukraine, and Iran, which is at odds with the US—are able to move sanctioned items, drone parts, and technologies that serve both civilian and military purposes.