Russia’s Lavrov heads to Tehran as Gulf states press Moscow over Iran attacks

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is set to travel to Tehran on Monday following appeals from Gulf states to Moscow to use its influence with the UN in pressuring Iran to cease attacks on neighboring regions. The visit coincides with heightened tensions over maritime security and the potential for a renewed conflict with the United States, prompted by President Trump's threat to "finish the job" if Iran alters its conduct.

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi responded vehemently, declaring that Tehran remained "even stronger" should Washington attempt to "finish the job" once more, adding that Iran possesses unaddressed grievances as well. Iran's rhetoric intensified over the weekend, with Defense Minister Mehrdad Ketabchi stating readiness to retaliate with "Mother of All Bombs" if attacked, and a senior advisor to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps commander-in-chief asserting Iran's possession of "the father of Iranian missiles" ready for targeting adversaries' energy infrastructure and investments across the region in the event of an attack.

During a meeting between Lavrov and Gulf Cooperation Council foreign ministers in Manama on Sunday, the coalition urged Russia to assume a proactive role in ensuring Iranian adherence to UN resolutions, halting attacks on Gulf states, and engaging in substantive dialogue. Lavrov advocated for a diplomatic resolution to the crisis, proposing an updated Russian plan for collective security in the Gulf that includes direct discussions among coastal states and neighboring nations such as Iraq and Jordan.

He emphasized Russia's commitment to respecting existing agreements and removing primary sources of conflict, but expressed disappointment in Western counterparts for failing to adhere to the same principles. The Gulf states reported over 7,000 ballistic missile and drone assaults since February 28, when the US and Israel initiated their war against Iran.

Targeted locations include airports, ports, power plants, water desalination facilities, and oil and gas installations. The coalition also warned that disruptions to maritime navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, alongside threats to shipping lanes in the Red Sea and Bab Al Mandeb, posed risks to global energy, food security, and international supply chains.

They called for a return to pre-war traffic levels in the strait. Iran has escalated attacks on tankers utilizing a US-supported route through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for approximately one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas supplies prior to the conflict. On Monday, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed that an oil tanker was struck by a naval mine in the Strait of Hormuz, forcing it to alter its course through an unauthorized southern route.

However, the IRGC offered no concrete evidence to substantiate the mine claim, and the incident's connection to a US-backed shipping route facilitated by Oman remains uncertain. Meanwhile, Iran's hardline Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf cautioned against funding AI and data companies believed to assist US and Israeli military operations, proposing the establishment of a "Gulf Data Authority" to enforce penalties on businesses linked to such entities.

This proposal, coupled with a previous warning by Iran's security chief Mohsen Rezaei regarding potential targeting of undersea cables, data centers, and AI facilities in the event of renewed hostilities with the US, underscores the growing concerns surrounding regional undersea infrastructure.