The Caspian Sea, as the largest lake in the world, possesses a prominent geopolitical and geostrategic position due to its energy resources and transit location. This significance can have extensive effects on the geopolitical weight and spatial development of its littoral states. One of the fundamental prerequisites for realizing and optimizing the Caspian Sea’s capacities and potentials is the delimitation of its maritime boundaries. Based on this premise, the present study seeks through a descriptive analytical method to answer the question: What impact does the delimitation (territorialization) of maritime boundaries in the Caspian Sea have on the development of Iran’s coastal provinces (Golestan, Mazandaran, and Gilan) in particular, and on the overall development of the country in general. The findings of this research indicate that the absence of clearly defined maritime boundaries and the existing ambiguity in this regard have significantly affected Iran’s geopolitical weight and the development of its coastal areas in various ways. The continuation of the current state of uncertainty has not only considerably limited Iran’s ability to exploit the Caspian Sea’s resources and advantages, but has also indirectly hindered the growth and developmental progress of its northern coastal provinces. Moreover, this ambiguity and lack of delimitation may, in certain contexts, provide a pretext for the involvement of extra-regional powers and the emergence of tensions between the Islamic Republic of Iran and other littoral states of the Caspian Sea. Therefore, efforts to formalize and delimit the maritime boundaries of the Caspian Sea taking into account the most favorable division for Iran are of great importance for enhancing Iran’s geopolitical weight and fostering the development of its coastal provinces.

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