Russian envoy says visit to Iran aimed at averting return to war

Tehran will host Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Monday, marking his maiden visit since the inception of the Middle East conflict. Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson, Esmaeil Baqaei, confirmed the trip on Sunday, stating that the two nations will deliberate on "regional and international developments". Lavrov, who is set to converse with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, affirmed Moscow's mission to "prevent the resurgence of a large-scale war", as talks between Tehran and Washington have hit a standstill.

This visit follows Russian President Vladimir Putin's early October communication with his Iranian counterpart Masoud Pezeshkian, in which he declared Russia's willingness to aid mediation endeavors. Both Russia and Iran, among the most heavily sanctioned nations globally, share profound bonds; their military and economic collaboration has only expanded since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

The Middle East war initiated in February when US-Israeli forces launched strikes on Iran. Although a ceasefire was reached in April, followed by a US-Iran memorandum of understanding in June, the fighting in and around the Strait of Hormuz persists. Iran asserts jurisdiction over the crucial waterway—through which one-fifth of global hydrocarbons flow under normal circumstances—and routinely hinders ships that traverse without its authorization.

In retaliation, Washington has maintained a naval blockade on Iranian ports. Iran informs the US that there is no military solution to the Middle East war. Russia's foreign ministry anticipates discussions during Lavrov's visit to center on "methods to resolve the acute international crisis sparked by the unlawful aggression of the US and Israel against Iran".

The ministry emphasized that the war has caused significant instability and insecurity, not only in the near and Middle East but also on a global scale.