Russian FM to visit Iran as Moscow looks to mediate in war

TEHRAN: Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov was due to arrive in Iran on Monday in his first visit since the outbreak of the Middle East war, as Russia seeks to play a mediating role.

Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei confirmed the trip on Sunday, saying in a statement that the two sides will discuss “regional and international developments”.

Lavrov, who is scheduled to meet with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, said Moscow’s efforts are “aimed at preventing the return of a large-scale war”, with talks stalled between Tehran and Washington.

The visit comes after Russian President Vladimir Putin told his Iranian counterpart Masoud Pezeshkian in early October that Moscow was prepared to contribute to mediation efforts.

Russia and Iran, two of the most heavily sanctioned nations in the world, maintain close ties. Their military and economic cooperation has only increased since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

The Middle East war began in February with US-Israeli strikes on Iran.

Despite a ceasefire in April, followed by a US-Iran memorandum of understanding in June, hostilities in and around the Strait of Hormuz have not stopped.

Iran claims control over the strategic waterway – through which one-fifth of the world’s hydrocarbons pass in normal times – and regularly targets vessels that cross without its authorisation.

In response, Washington has been maintaining a naval counter-blockade on Iranian ports.

Iran tells US there is no military solution to ME war

Russia’s foreign ministry said discussions during Lavrov’s visit were expected to focus on “ways to resolve the acute international crisis triggered by the unlawful aggression of the US and Israel against Iran”.

The ministry said the war had been a blow to stability and security “not only in the near and Middle East, but also on a global scale”.