Ukrainian operation in the Caspian Sea has drawn Iran directly into the geopolitical equationUkrainian drones recently struck vessels in the Caspian Sea, including what Kyiv described as Russian military-linked cargo ships and a missile boat. The Caspian Sea had long served as one of the safest supply routes between Russia and Iran. This corridor, linking Russia, Iran, and India, potentially serves as a strategic alternative to the Suez Canal, expanding economic and logistical Eurasian ties while reducing dependence on vulnerable maritime chokepoints. And the Caspian Sea is a vital artery for the Trans-Caspian branch of the INSTC. Russia, Iran, Ukraine, Israel, and the US now influence one another’s conflicts more directly.