Iran foreign minister says Russia, Iran have ‘never’ worked so closely
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Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (left) and his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi at a joint press conference in Tehran on Oct 19.
PHOTO: EPA
- Iran says Russia and Iran have “never” worked so closely, as Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met Sergei Lavrov in Tehran to discuss the Middle East war, Ukraine, Yemen and economic and nuclear ties.
- Lavrov said Moscow wants to stop “the return of a large-scale war”, while Putin has offered mediation. Talks come as US-Iran diplomacy stays stalled.
- The conflict has worsened since US-Israeli strikes on Iran in February. Fighting near the Strait of Hormuz continues, with Iran targeting ships and Washington keeping a naval counter-blockade.
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TEHRAN – Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Oct 20 that Russia and Iran have “never” worked so closely, as Moscow seeks to play a mediating role in the Middle East war.
Araghchi hosted his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, in Iran on Oct 19, during his first visit since the conflict’s outbreak.
“We covered everything from Europe to West Asia, including Lebanon, Palestine, Ukraine and Yemen. Also focused on (the) expansion of economic and nuclear cooperation,” Araghchi wrote on social media platform X. “Never in our history have Iran and Russia worked as closely as now.”
Lavrov said ahead of the visit that Moscow’s efforts were “aimed at preventing the return of a large-scale war”, with talks stalled between the US and Iran.
His visit came after Russian President Vladimir Putin told Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian in 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.
The Middle East war erupted in February with US-Israeli strikes on Iran.
A ceasefire in April and a US-Iran memorandum of understanding in June have failed to stop fighting in and around the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran claims control over the strategic waterway – through which one-fifth of the world’s oil passes in normal times – and regularly targets vessels that cross without its authorisation.
In response, Washington has maintained a naval counter-blockade of Iranian ports.
The Russian Foreign Ministry said ahead of Lavrov’s visit to Iran that discussions were expected to focus on “ways to resolve the acute international crisis triggered by the unlawful aggression of the US and Israel” against the Islamic republic.
The ministry added that the war had been a blow to stability and security “not only in the near and Middle East, but also on a global scale”. AFP