Tehran: Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs, Kazem Gharibabadi, has reminded the five coastal countries of the Caspian Sea of their responsibility for the security and protection of the world's largest inland body of water, warning that neglect could cause irreparable damage. According to Islamic Republic News Agency, at the ceremony on Monday to commemorate the Caspian Sea Day that falls on August 12, Gharibabadi highlighted the importance of this strategic body of water and the shared responsibility of the coastal countries - namely Iran, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Turkmenistan - towards it. He warned that the decline in the Caspian Sea's water level, pollution, and the weakening of the ecosystem can directly affect the lives of coastal communities and economic activities, calling for collective and coordinated efforts to confront these challenges. Gharibabadi referred to "the Framework Convention for the Protection of the Caspian Sea Environment," also known as the Tehra n Convention, noting that its implementation 20 years ago serves as a reminder of the sea's importance to Iran and its coastal countries. He remarked that the Caspian Sea has been part of the geography, identity, and relations of the nations surrounding it, playing a role in shaping bonds between the societies of this region and becoming a bridge for human, cultural, and civilizational movements. According to him, the geopolitical and strategic importance of the Caspian Sea has grown in the face of the current regional turmoil, particularly the joint US-Israeli-imposed war on Iran and its wider consequences. He stated that the Caspian littoral countries are more affected than any other country by these developments. Gharibabadi emphasized that security is a regional and long-term responsibility through mechanisms agreed upon by the five countries and warned against turning the Caspian Sea into an arena for competition or the presence of powers outside the region. He stressed the need for decisions about th e security, stability, and future of the Caspian Sea to be made entirely by the littoral states. He continued that the Caspian Sea has the potential to become an area of trust-building and regional cooperation, and that differences in views based on national priorities could be resolved through dialogue and cooperation between the five countries. Gharibabadi noted that no coastal country can provide a comprehensive solution to a phenomenon alone and that collective efforts are needed, under the framework of the Tehran Convention, to preserve and continue the Caspian Sea's capacities for future generations. He underscored the need for holding the Tehran Convention Conference of the Parties regularly and effectively, with the next round set in Iran on October 1, 2026, to turn this framework into a more effective platform for scientific cooperation, exchange of knowledge and information, and formation of joint initiatives. Gharibabadi concluded by thanking the diplomatic community and guests attending the Ca spian Day ceremony, stating the celebration aims to strive for a healthy, stable Caspian Sea that enjoys its rightful place in regional cooperation.