Iran' Foreign Minister, Seyed Abbas Araghchi, made the remarks at the First International Summit of Governors of Caspian Littoral Provinces held in Rasht. He emphasized that neighboring states constitute a priority in Iran’s foreign policy, describing cooperation with the five Caspian littoral countries as one of Tehran’s enduring and strategic pillars. Noting that the Islamic Republic of Iran shares borders with fifteen countries, Araghchi stated that the Caspian Sea holds a level of importance for Iran equivalent to that of the Persian Gulf.   He described Iran’s relations with all Caspian littoral states as very good and, in certain cases, strategic. Araghchi referred to the twenty-year long-term partnership agreement between Tehran and Moscow signed last year by the presidents of the two countries. He also cited the recent visits of the President of Iran to Russia and Azerbaijan, as well as the upcoming visits to Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan, as indicators of increasingly close relations among the leaders of regional states.   Highlighting the importance of the Caspian region in the fields of energy, transit corridors, maritime commerce, and tourism potential, Araghchi noted that the provinces of Gilan, Mazandaran, and Golestan are among Iran’s most prominent tourist destinations and could likewise become shared destinations for all Caspian littoral countries. At the same time, he underscored the need for joint cooperation to address concerns such as environmental pollution in this body of water.   Introducing what he termed provincial diplomacy as a new initiative of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Araghchi stated that this summit represents the first experience of direct engagement between Iranian provinces and their counterparts in neighboring countries, and that the model is expected to be replicated along other parts of Iran’s borders. He expressed hope that the outcomes of this meeting would lead to the expansion of practical cooperation between the coastal provinces and the Caspian littoral states.