Russia and Iran have further cemented their bilateral relations in what Russia's foreign ministry describes as a "trusting" atmosphere. The visit, which took place in Tehran and included discussions between Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, highlighted the depth of their partnership.
The foreign ministry's statement on the Telegram messaging app emphasized the comprehensive nature of the Russian-Iranian partnership, with a focus on various aspects of their bilateral agenda. Notably, these discussions occurred against a backdrop of increasing tensions in the Middle East.
Lavrov's visit followed his recent trip to China and North Korea, where he discussed energy and logistics projects with Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian. As has been customary with Russia, specific details of the talks were not disclosed.
Additionally, Lavrov took part in regional talks hosted by Iran, with the aim of fostering peace in the South Caucasus region. This effort came after Azerbaijani forces regained control of the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh, leading to the displacement of thousands of ethnic Armenians.
Since initiating its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Moscow has actively sought to strengthen ties with countries traditionally aligned with the West, accusing the "collective West" of trying to undermine Russia.
Ukraine has called on Tehran to halt the supply of deadly drones to Russia, which Kyiv alleges have played a significant role in Moscow's attacks on Ukrainian cities and infrastructure. While Iran initially denied providing Russia with Shahed kamikaze drones, it later acknowledged supplying a limited number before the conflict began.
The United States has expressed concerns about the growing defense partnership between Iran and Russia, seeing it as a potential risk not only to Ukraine but also to Iran's neighboring countries.
