Updated

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will travel to Tehran on Monday, October 19, 2026, for talks with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi, Russia's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova announced on October 17. The visit comes amid heightened regional tensions following the war on Iran and ongoing diplomatic maneuvering between Tehran and Washington, positioning Russia as a key partner Iran continues to engage as it weighs its broader foreign policy direction.