Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov arrived in Tehran on Monday, 19 October 2026, on his first trip to Iran since the war in the Middle East began in late February. The war was triggered by joint strikes by Israel and the United States on Iran, which began on 28 February. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is due to hold talks with Lavrov, and President Masoud Pezeshkian is also expected to receive him. Lavrov's previous visit to Iran took place in February 2025. The trip comes as Moscow tries to play a part in mediation in a conflict that has unsettled global energy markets.
Iranian officials presented the visit as a follow-up to bilateral agreements, with regional developments also on the table. Ismail Bagaei, the spokesman for Iran's foreign ministry, said on Sunday, 18 October, that the trip would monitor how those agreements are being carried out and exchange views on regional and international events. Lavrov said from Bahrain on Sunday, 18 October, that the effort aims to prevent the return of a large-scale war. The Strait of Hormuz is expected to dominate the talks, and Iran is still keeping it blocked. Portuguese reporting says Iran continues to launch attacks on ships and oil tankers in the strait. Talks between Tehran and Washington have reached a stalemate.
Lavrov met representatives of the Gulf Cooperation Council in Manama, Bahrain, on Sunday, 18 October. The bloc's members, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Oman, asked Russia to use its ties with Tehran to stop Iranian attacks on their states. Iran launched dozens of attacks on US bases and targets in Arab countries during the first forty days of the war. Putin told Pezeshkian in early October that Russia was ready to contribute to mediation efforts. Lavrov had told the UN General Assembly in late September that Russia was willing to work toward stabilising the situation in the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf.
US President Donald Trump has eased the application of sanctions against Russia and has said that Moscow is not helping Iran in the conflict. Iran's leadership fears a new military escalation, and politicians and generals expected an attack by the United States or Israel in the days leading up to the visit. Trump said in early October that he did not intend to strike Iran before the midterm congressional elections on 3 November. Those elections fall within weeks of the Lavrov visit, which is why Tehran is watching Washington's signals closely.
Russia and Iran concluded a strategic partnership agreement in early 2025 that is meant to deepen military and economic cooperation over 20 years. Unlike Russia's agreement with North Korea, it contains no mutual defence clause for a war. Tehran hopes above all for military support, and it has tried for years to obtain modern combat aircraft and air defence systems from Russia. Russia's capacity to provide that help is limited by its war in Ukraine. Both countries, among the most heavily sanctioned in the world, have drawn closer since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
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Sergei Lavrov reached Tehran on Monday, 19 October 2026, for talks with Abbas Araghchi and a planned meeting with Masoud Pezeshkian. It is his first trip to Iran since the war began in late February, as Moscow seeks a mediating role.
AI text based on reports by Deutsche Welle, Notícias ao Minuto, 7sur7 and other publishers. Published .