Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov offered Moscow’s help in pursuing a negotiated end to the Iran war after talks in Tehran, and said Russia did not intend to abandon implementation of its economic and investment agreements with Iran.
Lavrov met Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Oct. 19. Al Jazeera described the trip as Lavrov’s first visit to Iran since the war began; the outlet said the ministers discussed the conflict and efforts to end it.
At a recorded news conference in Tehran, Lavrov said Russia was ready to help find negotiated solutions to the conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel. He also said Russian specialists were gradually returning to the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant and that Moscow did not plan to abandon implementation of its economic and investment agreements with Iran.
Before the visit, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said the planned agenda included international and regional issues, particularly the situation around Iran. She also listed Russia’s stated efforts to ease tensions and practical steps to strengthen the countries’ comprehensive strategic partnership among the topics for discussion.
Lavrov attended the Russia-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Strategic Dialogue in Manama, Bahrain, on Oct. 18. A separate GCC Ministerial Council session took place that day and issued a communiqué on maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz.
The council called for maritime security to be restored and for conditions in the strait to return to those before Feb. 28. It condemned Iranian attacks on Gulf states and said disruptions to navigation put energy, food and medicine supplies, as well as global trade, at risk.
Russia’s Foreign Ministry said Lavrov and Araghchi discussed next steps following meetings between their presidents in Bishkek on Sept. 1 and Avaza on Oct. 8. The ministry also said they considered ways to develop bilateral ties, continuing earlier coverage of the Tehran talks.
