Subscribe for free to the America First Report newsletter.
It was supposed to be the deal that never came to be. Since the fall of the Soviet Union, the Caspian Sea has been hotly disputed by 2, then 3, then 5 countries claiming rights to its resource-rich seabed and sturgeon-filled waters. Oil, natural gas, and caviar-producing fish are abundant, making it one of the most coveted landlocked bodies of water in the world.
Suddenly, a deal has apparently been reached.
Caspian Sea: Five countries sign deal to end dispute
Russia, Iran, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan – all bordering the Caspian Sea – have agreed in principle on how to divide it up.
Their leaders signed the Convention on the Legal Status of the Caspian Sea in the Kazakh city of Aktau on Sunday.
What changed? Why all of a sudden did Iran, the biggest roadblock in reaching a deal because they have the smallest coastline on the Caspian, have a change of heart and push the deal forward? The answer can be found in recent sanctions from the United States and a chance that others may sanction them as well.
Despite denials, Iran is in a deepening economic crisis. Little is known about how deep it really is, but they are feeling the heat and likely did not properly save the massive amounts of money released to them by the last U.S. administration. Now, they need friends and fresh commerce to mitigate the damage.
Russia knows this and are behind the scenes giving Iran just enough aid to stay afloat. They will exert as much control over the situation in the Middle East as they can and a desperate Iran is just the in they need. They’ve been partners in Syria until recently. Now, they have the upper hand.
While news of the Caspian Sea deal will go unnoticed by most, it’s a pretty big deal. It gets Iran a boost they need even if it’s not the deal they wanted. It also lets Russia creep closer and closer to being a real power in the Middle East.
Covid variant BA.5 is spreading. It appears milder but much more contagious and evades natural immunity. Best to boost your immune system with new Z-Dtox and Z-Stack nutraceuticals from our dear friend, the late Dr. Vladimir Zelenko.