Caspian Sea Crisis: Iran says the Caspian has hit a roughly 200-year low and is still falling, with officials blaming rising temperatures, higher evaporation, reduced river inflows and a negative water balance—warning that retreating shorelines could damage coastal infrastructure, local economies and ecosystems. Regional Water Science Push: Russia’s envoy in Ashgabat argues there’s no single scientific explanation yet and calls for pooling Caspian littoral states’ scientific and technical capacity to improve forecasts and protect the ecosystem. Trans-Caspian Cooperation: Turkmenistan is urging tangible deliverables and regional unity to move Trans-Caspian cooperation forward, pointing to the Cholpon-Ata Declaration’s focus on trade, transport, logistics and energy. Turkmen-Afghan Energy Talks: Turkmenistan and Afghanistan signed an MoU on gas purchases under the TAPI pipeline, setting the stage for pricing, demand and distribution discussions. Fuel Policy at the Border: Turkmenistan has cut the duty-free fuel allowance for vehicles leaving the country to 150 liters and raised the per-liter fee for amounts above the limit, aiming to curb fuel export schemes. Ashgabat Logistics Hub: ITTC 2026 will be held in Ashgabat in late November, positioning the city as a platform for transport and transit corridor dialogue, including Middle Corridor and Caspian Sea routes.