Russia’s Lavrov to discuss US war and regional security during Tehran visit

What happened: Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov arrived in Tehran on Monday to meet President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, his first visit to Iran since February 2025. Why it matters: Analyst Nikita Smagin said the near-simultaneous Gulf and Iran visits are a deliberate signal that Moscow approaches relations with all these countries on broadly equal terms and wants to keep its mediator status.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov arrived in Tehran on Monday to meet President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, his first visit to Iran since February 2025.

Analyst Nikita Smagin said the near-simultaneous Gulf and Iran visits are a deliberate signal that Moscow approaches relations with all these countries on broadly equal terms and wants to keep its mediator status.