Araghchi says Iran-Russia ties are closer than ever after meeting Lavrov, with talks covering regional conflicts and economic and nuclear cooperation

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tuesday that ties between Tehran and Moscow had reached an unprecedented level of closeness, a day after meeting his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, in Tehran. The meeting marked Lavrov’s first visit to Iran since the US-Israeli war on Iran began.

Araghchi wrote on X that the two discussed issues “from Europe to West Asia,” including Lebanon, Palestine, Ukraine and Yemen. He said they also focused on expanding economic and nuclear cooperation, adding: “Never in our history have Iran and Russia worked as closely as now.”

Before the visit, Lavrov said Moscow’s efforts were “aimed at preventing the return of a large-scale war,” as negotiations between the US and Iran remain stalled. The visit followed a statement earlier this month by Russian President Vladimir Putin, who told Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian that Moscow was ready to contribute to mediation efforts.