TEHRAN (Tasnim) � Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif voiced the country�s support for the idea of establishing a permanent association of the Caspian Sea littoral states to supervise issues pertaining to the world�s largest enclosed inland body of water by area.

In an address to a meeting of foreign ministers of the Caspian Sea littoral states, held in Astana on Wednesday morning, Zarif hailed the promotion in recent years of interaction among the Caspian states in light of the political will of leaders.

He also expressed Tehran�s support for the establishment of a permanent regional association, whose activities and list of duties would be defined after consultation among the Caspian littoral countries.

Zarif explained that founding such an association would reflect a macro and comprehensive outlook on the Caspian issues.

Elsewhere in his speech, the Iranian diplomat praised the Caspian littoral states for their hard work and considerable efforts over the past 20 years to draft the legal regime of the Caspian Sea, describing the �common understanding� in the negotiations as reason for optimism about an eventual agreement.

Zarif, however, underscored that a lasting legal regime should guarantee that the interests of all littoral states are met given the geopolitical changes.

To that end, he added, the legal regime needs to take into account three main topics of concern, including peace and security, sustainable development and fair demarcation of the sea boundaries.

Iran believes that peace and stability in the Caspian region comes true with clearness of peaceful employment of the sea, the avoidance of arms race, guarantees of exclusion of military forces in relations among the countries, promotion of deterrent diplomacy, joint action against threats, settlement of the conflicts via peaceful means, and prohibition of the military presence of third parties in the sea, Zarif added.

He further called for serious measures to conserve the environment and protect the biological resources of the sea, stressing the need for plans to control the shipment of toxic pollutants to the international markets through the Caspian Sea.

The top Iranian diplomat finally noted that in demarcation of the maritime borders, consideration should be given to the geographical position of each country and that it should involve �fairness�, an internationally-recognized principle for reaching a consensus.

Foreign ministers of Iran, Russia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan are in Astana for the meeting.

The Caspian Sea is the largest enclosed water body on earth by area, variously classed as the world�s largest lake or a full-fledged sea.

The Caspian Sea Convention will determine the territorial rights of littoral states as well as other matters related to the world's largest landlocked body of water.

By Tasnim News Agency