09:22 - 18.08.2026

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August 18, Fineko/abc.az. According to British newspaper The Telegraph, Russia and Iran are expanding a strategic trade route across the Caspian Sea, establishing an alternative logistics framework to bypass Western sanctions and maritime blockades.

Four Iranian ports on the Caspian Sea are operating 24/7 to transport wheat, animal feed, and essential commodities amidst US naval restrictions in the Persian Gulf. Landlocked within Eurasia, the Caspian Sea prevents US military presence, limiting Washington's ability to disrupt cargo flows.

The publication notes that the Caspian Sea is becoming a core segment of the International North–South Transport Corridor (INSTC), linking Russia, Azerbaijan, Iran, and India outside Western-controlled shipping lanes.