Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov travelled to Tehran this week for talks with Iranian leaders, his first visit to Iran since the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran began, as Tehran said it would not return to negotiations with Washington while American pressure continues.2,3,1
The war, which flared in late February, has lasted almost eight months with no clear end in sight. Oman has acted as a mediator between the United States and Iran, and Pakistan has also played a role, including in the Islamabad Memorandum signed in June. Lavrov’s trip comes as Gulf states have pressed Moscow to use its influence to curb Iranian attacks on their territory and shipping.1,4
The reports differ on the timing of the visit. Breitbart said Lavrov was in Tehran on Monday to “discuss de-escalation steps” with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and President Masoud Pezeshkian. CBS News said Pezeshkian met Lavrov in Tehran on Tuesday.4,1
Before flying to Iran, Lavrov met foreign ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council in Bahrain, according to Breitbart. The bloc’s Secretary-General, Jasem al-Budaiwi, was especially critical of the Houthis, Iran-backed militants in Yemen, who have used drones and missiles to attack civilian airports and energy facilities in Saudi Arabia. The GCC ministers asked Russia to “play an active role in pressing Tehran” to stop attacking its neighbours.4
Lavrov responded with assurances that Russia values its trade and diplomatic ties with the GCC. He did not say he would use Russia’s influence with Iran, and he blamed the “unprovoked act of aggression” by the United States and Israel against Iran for the region’s current difficulties. Before leaving for Tehran, he described Russia’s approach. “Our concept is specifically designed to foster conditions for direct dialogue among the Gulf’s coastal states and their neighbors, such as Iraq and Jordan,” he said.4
Pezeshkian met Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, on Tuesday. According to a readout of the meeting posted on the official Iranian government account on X, Pezeshkian told Munir that “US warmongering lies behind regional tensions, including disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz,” and said Washington “must lift its pressures, threats and sanctions before any negotiations.”1
The U.S. has stepped up sanctions over the past month under a campaign called Operation Economic Outcast, and President Trump has said economic pressure has become the main strategy for ending the war. CBS News noted that the conditions Iran set are unlikely to be agreed to by Washington. Speaking in the Oval Office, Trump said, “As you know, we’re doing very well with Iran.” He added, “We just have to make a final decision of which way do we want to win? Do we want to win the nice way or the not nice way? But we’re doing very well.”1
Trump has also addressed Russia’s role. He recently granted Moscow exemptions from some oil sanctions and signed a deal to import Russian diesel fuel. In a post on Truth Social on Sunday, he wrote that “Russia is doing very little, if anything, to help the Islamic Republic of Iran, compared to what they could be doing, and I want to keep it that way.” CBS News described Iran as having praised its ties with Russia, and said the two countries have become powerful allies. Lavrov has said Russia remains committed to a 20-year strategic partnership with Iran, which formally began on October 2, and promised to protect Iran against future attacks.4,1
Iranian officials also spoke about the possibility of renewed U.S. strikes. Defence Minister Mehrdad Ketabchi, approved by parliament on Sunday, said Iran was prepared to respond if the United States used its most powerful conventional warhead, the “Mother of All Bombs,” in new strikes. “We have taken the necessary measures for this scenario, and we are at ease,” he said. Araghchi wrote: “Last time you wanted to ‘finish the job,’ Iran emerged even stronger. Want to try your luck again? Be our guest. But be careful; we have unfinished jobs too.” On Sunday, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps adviser Brig. Gen. Mohammad Reza Naqdi said Iran had readied “the father of our missiles,” and claimed Iran has a new super-weapon ready to deploy against the United States and Israel.4
Nikita Smagin, a Middle East analyst, told Al Jazeera News that the timing of Russia’s visits to the Gulf monarchies and Iran was “a deliberate signal” that Moscow “approaches relations with all these countries on broadly equal terms.” Smagin said Russia probably did not want the conflict to escalate, since that could strain its relations with other Middle Eastern states, but that Moscow might not be eager for it to end quickly because the loss of Middle Eastern crude oil products from the market had helped Russian oil sales and profits.4
The reports do not describe any agreement reached during Lavrov’s meetings in Tehran, and it is not yet known whether Iran and the United States will return to talks. Lavrov is expected to continue his diplomacy in the region, and the Iranian position on negotiations remains that Washington must first lift its pressure, threats and sanctions.2,3,4
