Lavrov arrives in Tehran for talks on US war and regional security
Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has arrived in Tehran for talks with senior Iranian officials on the war with the United States and efforts to end it. He landed in the Iranian capital on Monday afternoon and is due to meet President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi later in the day. It is his first visit to Iran since February 2025.
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Moscow said the trip is part of efforts to ease months of tension after the US and Israel launched their war on Iran on 28 February. The visit comes after Lavrov spent Sunday in Bahrain, where he took part in a strategic dialogue session between Russia and the Gulf Cooperation Council. GCC members urged Moscow to use its influence with Tehran to push for serious dialogue and to help restore shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
The council's members said they wanted Iran's nuclear and missile programmes, as well as its support for regional armed groups, to be included in any future talks to end the war. GCC chief Jasem Al-Budaiwi said member states had faced more than 7,000 Iranian missiles and drones since the start of the conflict. The Strait of Hormuz has been severely disrupted by attacks on commercial vessels, adding pressure on regional trade and energy flows.
The Tehran talks underline Russia's attempt to keep working relations with both Iran and Gulf states at a time of wider regional instability. Lavrov told GCC ministers in Manama that the region was again close to full-scale war and said Moscow wanted a regional architecture for collective security. He said this could combine initiatives from countries in the region with proposals from Russia and China, with the aim of restoring maritime traffic and reducing tensions.
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The timing of the Bahrain and Tehran visits suggests Moscow is trying to present itself as a mediator across opposing sides of the conflict. An analyst cited in the report said the near-simultaneous trips were a deliberate signal that Russia wants to deal with these countries on broadly equal terms. That approach also reflects Moscow's effort to preserve its status as a regional broker despite the strain on its global standing caused by the war in Ukraine.
What remains unclear is whether the Tehran meetings will produce any concrete movement on ceasefire efforts, maritime security or the wider agenda for future talks. It is also not known how far Iran is prepared to respond to GCC pressure or whether Russia can translate its diplomatic contacts into practical de-escalation. The outcome of the discussions will be watched closely for signs of any shift in regional positions.
