Lavrov visits Tehran amid regional escalation

TEHRAN — Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov arrived in Tehran on Monday for his first visit to Iran since the Middle East war began, Russian news agencies reported, as Moscow seeks a mediating role.

Lavrov travelled from Bahrain, according to the Russian reports cited by Arab News. He was scheduled to meet Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.

Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said the visit would cover regional and international developments, according to Euronews Arabic. Lavrov was expected to meet Araghchi, it reported.

Lavrov said Russian efforts aim to prevent a return to full-scale war, Euronews Arabic reported. It did not give the full wording of his remarks.

Mediation offer

The visit follows a call earlier this month in which Russian President Vladimir Putin told Pezeshkian that Moscow was ready to contribute to mediation, according to both outlets. In late September, Lavrov said Russia was ready to help stabilise the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf, Euronews Arabic reported.

Lavrov last visited Iran in February 2025, the outlet said. It described Russian-Iranian ties as having grown closer since 2022, with wider military and economic cooperation.

Pressure on Iran

Euronews Arabic reported that financial pressure on Iran has intensified after nine months of war. It cited the US news site Axios, which quoted US Central Command chief Adm. Brad Cooper as saying Iran-backed groups, including Hezbollah, Hamas and Iraqi factions, are transferring funds to Iran's Revolutionary Guards. Euronews did not independently verify the claim.

Axios also quoted Cooper as saying US measures have cost Iran about $25 billion in oil revenue, according to Euronews Arabic.

The Strait of Hormuz has become a main point of leverage for both sides, the outlet reported. Washington has imposed a blockade on Iranian ports, increased its naval presence and had US warships escort oil tankers through the strait. Tehran maintains influence over shipping and ties the passage of some vessels to its permission, according to the report.

Euronews Arabic said US officials fear that economic pressure could lead Iran to step up attacks on ships in the Gulf. That could push shipping companies to avoid the strait, one of the world's key oil routes, it said.

Background

Talks continue on a US proposal to end the war, and Washington is pressing Tehran to respond, Euronews Arabic reported. The US congressional midterm elections are approaching. The outlet said disagreements remain over the blockade, navigation security in Hormuz and the terms for ending military operations.

Pakistani mediation produced a memorandum of understanding in June, according to the same report. It collapsed in July after Iran renewed attacks on ships in the strait and the United States carried out strikes on Iran.

The sources did not say whether Lavrov carried a specific proposal to Tehran. Neither the Kremlin nor the Iranian government had published an account of the talks in the material reviewed.