Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran and Moscow are cooperating more closely than ever after talks that included the Middle East war, regional issues, and plans for economic and nuclear ties.
Araghchi wrote on X on Oct. 20 that his Oct. 19 meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov covered issues in Europe and West Asia, naming Lebanon, Palestine, Ukraine and Yemen. He said the ministers also focused on expanding economic and nuclear cooperation. “Never in our history have Iran and Russia worked as closely as now,” Araghchi wrote.
After the talks, Lavrov offered Moscow’s help in pursuing a negotiated end to the war. Before his visit, he had said Russia’s efforts aimed to prevent a return to large-scale fighting. In an Oct. 7 call with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Moscow was ready to contribute to mediation, Iranian state media reported.
Russia’s Foreign Ministry said ahead of the meeting that it expected discussions to cover what it called “unlawful aggression” by the United States and Israel. The ministry also said the war had harmed security beyond the Middle East.
The talks took place as U.S.-Iran diplomacy remained stalled, AFP reported. The outlet said fighting continued around the Strait of Hormuz despite an April ceasefire and a June memorandum of understanding between Washington and Tehran. AFP reported that the strait normally carries about 20% of global oil flows. It also said Iran had targeted vessels it considered unauthorized, while the United States maintained a naval counter-blockade of Iranian ports.
The meeting came amid wider efforts to advance economic ties. Lavrov said bilateral trade rose 21% in 2025 and increased more than 10% in the first eight months of 2026. He cited the free trade agreement between Iran and the Eurasian Economic Union as support for commerce. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian also pressed Lavrov to speed up energy, transport and trade commitments, his office said. Russia’s Foreign Ministry says the countries’ comprehensive strategic partnership treaty took effect Oct. 2, 2025.
