Key Takeaways
- Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is set to visit Iran.
- The visit aims to mediate in the Middle East war between Iran and the US.
- Discussions will focus on resolving the crisis triggered by US and Israel’s aggression against Iran.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is due to arrive in Iran on Monday, marking his first visit since the outbreak of the Middle East war. This move comes as Russia seeks to play a mediating role in the conflict.
The visit, confirmed by Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei, is part of Moscow’s efforts to prevent a large-scale war and includes meetings with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.
Russian President Vladimir Putin had earlier stated that Moscow was prepared to contribute to mediation efforts, following a meeting with Iranian counterpart Masoud Pezeshkian in early October.
Russia and Iran, both heavily sanctioned nations, maintain close ties, with their military and economic cooperation increasing 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 and a US-Iran memorandum of understanding in June, hostilities in and around the Strait of Hormuz have continued.
Iran claims control over the strategic waterway, through which one-fifth of the world’s hydrocarbons pass, and regularly targets vessels that cross without its authorisation.
In response, the US has maintained a naval counter-blockade on Iranian ports. Iran’s foreign ministry stated that discussions during Lavrov’s visit would focus on ways to resolve the crisis triggered by US and Israel’s aggression.
The ministry further noted that the war has been a blow to stability and security not only in the Middle East but also on a global scale.
