Lavrov Arrives in Tehran for Talks
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov arrived in Tehran on Tuesday for talks with senior officials, according to images published by Iran’s “ISNA” news agency.
The Iranian agency reported that Lavrov would meet his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi.
Meanwhile, the Russian Foreign Ministry stated in a press release that the discussions would cover “Russian-Iranian relations” as well as “a number of current international issues.”
The talks will address developments in Syria and Yemen, as well as the nuclear agreement signed in 2015 between Iran and world powers, including Russia.
The agreement, officially known as the “Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action” (JCPOA), collapsed after Washington withdrew from it in 2018 during former U.S. President Donald Trump’s first term. Trump, who returned to office last January, reinstated the “maximum pressure” policy by imposing sanctions on Iran, reflecting his approach during his first term.
Both Russia and Iran are under severe international sanctions that restrict trade, but they have strengthened their cooperation in other areas, such as defense.
Ukraine and its Western allies have accused Tehran of supplying Moscow with weapons for use in the war—allegations that Iran has repeatedly denied.
In January, during a visit to Moscow, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian signed a strategic partnership agreement with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, further strengthening economic and military cooperation between the two nations.
Despite their current alliance, Iran and Russia have a complex history that has included military confrontations.
Both governments suffered a major setback in Syria when their ally, ousted Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, fled to Moscow in December after opposition forces, led by “Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham,” launched a surprise attack and entered the capital, Damascus.
