
Russia is using the Caspian Sea as a major transportation corridor to ship drone components and other goods to Iran, turning it into an important bridge for clandestine trade.
The American media New York Times, citing its sources on condition of anonymity, explains that this long-forgotten corridor is helping Iran rebuild its military capabilities after the American-Israeli bombing campaign that ended last month.
" If Russian deliveries continue at the current pace, Iran could quickly restore its drone arsenal, of which it lost about 60 percent during the recent war ," a US official said.
The Caspian Sea serves as a bridge between the two countries, which do not share a land border but have long coastlines on this inland sea.
This route allows Russia and Iran to trade freely, without fear of interference from the US or other countries to evade sanctions.
According to this information, Russia is sending goods that would normally pass through the Strait of Hormuz, which has been blocked for weeks by the US and Iran. Grain, animal feed, sunflower oil and other basic products are being transported through the Caspian Sea.
"If you think about the ideal place for sanctions avoidance and military transfers, it's the Caspian Sea ," says expert Nicole Grajewski, a professor at Sciences Po in Paris.
" For American policymakers, the Caspian Sea is a geopolitical 'black hole'; it almost doesn't exist," says Luke Coffey, a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute.