Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov arrived in Tehran today, Monday, to discuss steps to de-escalate tensions in the region with his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi, in his first visit since February 2025.
Lavrov is also scheduled to meet today with Iranian President, Masoud Bezhkian, according to TASS agency.
During his meetings in Iran, Lavrov will pay significant attention to practical steps aimed at strengthening the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries.
It is also expected that the Iranian side will be briefed on the main outcomes of his talks with the Gulf Cooperation Council countries in Manama, which was the first stop on his Middle Eastern tour.
The Russian minister emphasized yesterday, Sunday, from Manama the need to return to the Islamabad Agreement signed last June between Iran and the United States, before it collapsed in the first week of July.
He stated that his visit aims to "prevent the return of a large-scale war," amid stalled negotiations between Tehran and Washington.
Moscow enjoys good relations with Tehran in several fields, and the level of military and economic cooperation between them has increased since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Russia was one of the first countries to oppose the war on Iran last February. Moscow also has close ties with all Gulf countries.
Russia has repeatedly expressed its readiness to facilitate dialogue between the U.S. and Iranian sides by hosting quantities of enriched uranium inside Iran.
It is worth noting that the U.S. and Iranian sides had signed a memorandum of understanding in June with Pakistan's mediation, before it collapsed in July with the resumption of Iranian attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz and the U.S. response with military strikes on Iran.
Tehran insists on overseeing shipping traffic in the vital Strait of Hormuz for energy supplies and targets ships attempting to cross "without obtaining permission from it," according to its statements.
Meanwhile, Washington continues to impose a suffocating maritime blockade on Iranian ports, and its naval vessels are now escorting oil tankers crossing the Strait in increasing numbers.