ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq – Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Monday hailed his meeting with Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov in Tehran as “very important,” adding that Moscow and Tehran “cooperate closely” on Iran’s peace talks with the US and rejecting military solutions to regional issues.

Lavrov arrived in Tehran on Monday, with Tehran confirming his visit ahead of his arrival as Moscow increasingly eyes opportunities to play a mediating role in the Middle East war.

Meanwhile, the Russian top diplomat said that Moscow’s efforts are “aimed at preventing the return of a large-scale war” in the Middle East, with talks between Tehran and Washington toward a lasting peace remaining stalled.

“We engaged in detailed discussions today regarding key regional and international issues, as well as matters of mutual interest within our bilateral relations,” Araghchi said, speaking alongside his Russian counterpart at a joint presser, noting that the two countries “cooperate closely” on matters such as the US-Iran negotiations.

He described the meetings as “very important and fruitful,” noting that relations between Tehran and Moscow are “strategic.”

Both countries share the same view “that regional issues cannot be resolved through military means; rather, they must be addressed through diplomacy and political solutions,” he said.

Earlier in October, Russian President Vladimir Putin told his Iranian counterpart Masoud Pezeshkian in Turkmenistan that Moscow was ready to mediate to resolve the war.

Tehran and Moscow “explored practical approaches to expand cooperation across economic, commercial, political, and cultural spheres,” Araghchi said. “We maintain ongoing consultations on political matters.”

Russia and Iran maintain a strategic partnership, with both countries ranking among the world’s heaviest sanctioned nations. Moscow and Tehran have continued to expand ties, with Araghchi meeting Lavrov in late 2025 to sign a cooperation document spanning 2026 to 2028.

Hostilities in and around the vital Strait of Hormuz have persisted despite an April ceasefire between the US and Iran that was followed by a soon-broken memorandum of understanding in June. Washington has been blockading Iranian ports while Tehran claims control over the waterway.

On Wednesday, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said that Tehran is ready to respond with “greater force” as the possibility of new US strikes remains “very real” before the end of the upcoming US midterm elections in November.