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Central Asia to energy markets in the world (Sarmand and Kavyani Fard 2017:92).
The country shares a 1550 km land border with Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, and
Armenia, and its Caspian coastline stretches 650 km across. Iran thus possesses a
geopolitical position that is unrivaled to help resolve the export issues faced by
these countries (Sarmand and Kavyani Fard 2017:92).
In addition, Iran plays a significantly important role in relation to various countries in the region in terms of long-standing ethnic, religious, and cultural relations
with the republics in Central Asia and the Caucasus and having valuable experiences in various fields of the oil industry (Sarmand and Kavyani Fard 2017:92).
The Caspian Sea region is a prisoner of geography. The remoteness of this region
from global markets and the lack of infrastructure needed to bring energy resources
to the consumer market have contributed to reduced global demand for energy from
the region at various junctures by both private and public institutions. This has led
to a large degree of dependence on energy transit countries, namely Russia, which
affects the geopolitics of the region. As the only viable second alternative transit
country, Iran could attract the attention of regional governments by resolving its
diplomatic isolation, undoubtedly sparking an Iranian–Russian geopolitical rivalry
over the Caspian basin and Central Asia.
Introduction
Central Asia to energy markets in the world (Sarmand and Kavyani Fard 2017:92).
The country shares a 1550 km land border with Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, and
Armenia, and its Caspian coastline stretches 650 km across. Iran thus possesses a
geopolitical position that is unrivaled to help resolve the export issues faced by
these countries (Sarmand and Kavyani Fard 2017:92).
In addition, Iran plays a significantly important role in relation to various countries in the region in terms of long-standing ethnic, religious, and cultural relations
with the republics in Central Asia and the Caucasus and having valuable experiences in various fields of the oil industry (Sarmand and Kavyani Fard 2017:92).
The Caspian Sea region is a prisoner of geography. The remoteness of this region
from global markets and the lack of infrastructure needed to bring energy resources
to the consumer market have contributed to reduced global demand for energy from
the region at various junctures by both private and public institutions. This has led
to a large degree of dependence on energy transit countries, namely Russia, which
affects the geopolitics of the region. As the only viable second alternative transit
country, Iran could attract the attention of regional governments by resolving its
diplomatic isolation, undoubtedly sparking an Iranian–Russian geopolitical rivalry
over the Caspian basin and Central Asia.
Introduction