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Russia-Iran diplomatic efforts for Middle East de-escalation

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2026-10-21 16:07 UTC → 2026-10-21 16:07 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has commenced a Middle East tour focused on regional de-escalation, beginning with the ninth round of strategic dialogue between Russia and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) in Manama, Bahrain. During this meeting, Lavrov met with officials from Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, and Oman to discuss regional security, trade, and economic cooperation. In Bahrain, Lavrov proposed the creation of an ‘inclusive security architecture for the Persian Gulf’ that would include Iran, Iraq, Jordan, and other neighboring states. Moscow suggests this approach aims to address the root causes of regional instability, which it attributes to the actions of the United States and Israel. Following the Bahrain mission, Lavrov arrived in Tehran on October 19 for high-level talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi, President Masoud Pezeshkian, and Security Council chief Mohsen Rezaei. This visit, the first since the outbreak of conflict in the Middle East, aimed to strengthen the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty signed earlier this year. Discussions focused on expanding bilateral cooperation in economic, nuclear, energy, and transportation sectors, including the technical survey of the Rasht–Astara railway and the return of Russian specialists to the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant. Lavrov noted that Moscow intends to honor existing economic and investment agreements with Tehran despite international sanctions. On regional security, the two sides addressed conflicts in Lebanon, Palestine, Ukraine, and Yemen, as well as tensions in the Strait of Hormuz. The discussions also extended to the need to reduce tensions between the Taliban and Pakistan and to counter terrorist threats in Afghanistan. Lavrov emphasized Russia's willingness to act as a mediator to prevent a large-scale war and resolve the crisis involving the United States and Israel. ~~Araghchi noted that ‘Iran and Russia have never worked more closely than they do now,’ describing the cooperation as reaching an unprecedented historical high.~~

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