geopolitical challenges to iran's exploitation of its interests in the caspian

the caspian basin in its old geopolitical situation under the soviet :union: was located in the buffer zone between two spheres of influence of the two superpowers. after the fall of the soviet :union: followed by the rise of new structures and three new states in the region, new relations, however, prevailed among the areas of geography, power and politics in the region. these new relations in the caspian changed iran's interests in the caspian dramatically and new definitions of iran's geopolitical interests in the caspian emerged. the islamic republic of iran's government has persistently sought to secure its interests in the caspian following the collapse of the soviet :union:; there have been a number of political and geopolitical barriers depriving iran from attaining an important part of its interests in the caspian. using descriptive-analytical approach, this paper seeks to academically discuss these barriers and suggest measures overcoming these problems.