Lavrov is in Tehran to discuss reducing the escalation in the region

Listen to the article. The audio text is automated, generated by an automated system

Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, arrived in Tehran to discuss steps to reduce the escalation in the region with his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi, in his first visit since February 2025.

Lavrov is also scheduled to meet on Monday with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, according to TASS.

During his meetings in Iran, Lavrov will pay great attention to practical steps aimed at strengthening the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries.

The Iranian side is also expected to be informed of the most important results of its talks with the Gulf Cooperation Council countries in Manama, which was the first stop on its tour of the Middle East.

Yesterday, Sunday, from Manama, the Russian minister stressed the necessity of returning to the Islamabad Agreement, which was signed last June between Iran and the United States, before it collapsed in the first week of July.

He said that his visit aims to "prevent the return of a large-scale war," in light of the faltering talks between Tehran and Washington

Moscow enjoys good relations with Tehran in several fields, and the level of their military and economic cooperation has increased since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Russia was one of the first countries to oppose the war on Iran last February. Moscow also has close relations with all Gulf countries.

Russia has expressed more than once in the past its readiness to facilitate dialogue between the American and Iranian sides, by receiving quantities of enriched uranium located inside Iran.

It is noteworthy that the American and Iranian parties concluded a memorandum of understanding in June, mediated by Pakistan, before it collapsed in July with the resumption of Iranian attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz and the United States responded with military strikes on Iran.

Tehran insists on supervising navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, which is vital for energy supplies, and targets ships that attempt to cross it “without obtaining its permission,” she said.

While Washington continues to impose a stifling naval blockade of Iranian ports, its naval vessels are accompanying oil tankers crossing Hormuz in increasing numbers.