Situated on the southern Caspian coast, Bandar-e Anzali anchors Iran’s northern maritime access. Unlike southern ports focused on global energy routes, Anzali links Iran to regional Caspian trade and security dynamics.

The city developed around its natural lagoon and port facilities, becoming Iran’s principal Caspian harbor. Its role expanded with regional shipping, fishing, and later free-zone and logistics initiatives.

Bandar-e Anzali emerged as a Caspian Sea port under Qajar rule, when Russian commercial influence in northern Iran gave the city significance as a gateway to maritime trade. In the nineteenth century it was known as Enzeli and functioned as a semi-official Russian commercial enclave with regular steamship connections to Baku and Astrakhan.

Following Soviet withdrawal after World War Two the port was renamed and more fully incorporated into the Iranian state. After 1991 the independence of the new Caspian states revived the port’s commercial and transit potential as part of developing north-south trade corridors connecting Russia and the Gulf.

Today Bandar-e Anzali hosts port operations, fisheries, tourism, and free-zone logistics. Its strategic value lies in Caspian connectivity, sanctions-era regional trade, and maritime security coordination.