TEHRAN: Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov arrived in Tehran on Monday for his first Lavrov Tehran visit since the outbreak of the Middle East war, for talks on bilateral relations and regional and international developments, Iran’s state broadcaster IRIB reported.
Lavrov is expected to meet President Masoud Pezeshkian, IRIB said, citing Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei, as part of follow-up on bilateral agreements.
Iran and Russia have strengthened political, economic and military cooperation in recent years amid Western sanctions imposed on both countries. In January 2025, Pezeshkian and Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a 20-year Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty in Moscow, covering cooperation in defence, security, energy, trade and transportation. The agreement provides for closer coordination on regional issues, though not a mutual defence obligation.
Lavrov Tehran visit coincides with third Hormuz mine strike
Hours before Lavrov’s arrival, an oil tanker caught fire after striking a naval mine in the southern part of the Strait of Hormuz, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy said late Sunday.
The blast struck the vessel’s engine room as it tried to leave the waterway, Fars News Agency reported, citing an IRGC Navy statement. The tanker had switched off its positioning and navigation systems and used what Tehran considers an unauthorised southern route.
The IRGC Navy accused the vessel of violating maritime regulations and warned that ships operating with their navigation systems switched off would face a firm response.
It was the third such incident in three days: on Saturday, a supertanker carrying more than 2 million barrels of crude struck a mine and caught fire on an unauthorised route, and a day earlier another tanker was hit.
Why Hormuz matters for Pakistan
The waterway is the world’s most important oil chokepoint. Analysts have already warned that oil could hit $200 a barrel as the Hormuz tanker crisis deepens, a surge that would feed straight into Pakistani petrol prices.
The US and Israel launched a war against Iran on February 28. Tehran responded with missile and drone attacks across the region and effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, while Washington later imposed a naval blockade on Iranian ports.
A US-Iran memorandum of understanding on freedom of navigation, signed in June, stalled over security disagreements.
Araghchi accuses Netanyahu of dragging US into war
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of seeking to drag the United States into another war with Iran to avoid imprisonment, while warning Washington against renewed military action.
“Netanyahu is driving America into another war to stay out of jail,” Araghchi wrote on X, accusing him of disregarding the consequences for Israel and Donald Trump.
“Last time you wanted to ‘finish the job,’ Iran emerged even stronger. Want to try your luck again? Be our guest. But be careful; we have unfinished jobs too,” he added.
His remarks came after Trump endorsed Netanyahu a day earlier ahead of Israel’s October 27 elections, warning Washington might have to confront Iran itself if Israelis elected another leader.
“If Israel has the wrong Leader, which would be anyone other than Bibi, America will have to do this work itself,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Netanyahu, whose government has been described as the most right-wing in Israel’s history, is standing trial on domestic corruption charges and has been wanted by the International Court of Justice since 2024 for war crimes in Gaza.
Opposition parties are coordinating to replace his government at the ballot box, while fighting resumed after an April ceasefire and a June framework agreement collapsed in stalled negotiations.
Russia has already signalled a mediating role: Putin offered to help end the Iran war and later offered to mediate as losses mounted. Pezeshkian has said an Iran-US peace deal is “not out of reach”, even as Trump ruled out an attack before the November 3 midterms.
FAQs
Why has Sergey Lavrov visited Tehran?
For talks on bilateral relations and regional developments, including follow-up on the 20-year strategic partnership treaty signed in January 2025.
What happened to the oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz?
A tanker struck a naval mine in the strait’s southern part late Sunday and caught fire. The IRGC Navy said it had switched off its navigation systems and used an unauthorised route. It was the third such incident in three days.
What did Iran’s foreign minister say about Netanyahu?
Abbas Araghchi accused Netanyahu of trying to drag the United States into another war with Iran to avoid imprisonment, after Trump endorsed him ahead of Israel’s October 27 elections.
How does the Hormuz crisis affect Pakistan?
Disruptions in the strait threaten oil supplies and prices. Analysts warn crude could hit $200 a barrel, which would push Pakistani petrol prices higher.
