Russian Foreign Minister to visit Iran on Tuesday, Tehran says

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will visit Iran this week to discuss bilateral relations, as well as regional and international developments, Iran's foreign ministry announced on Saturday.

Iranian domestic media specifically mentioned Tuesday as the expected date of the visit, with a focus on discussions about Syria. No further details have yet emerged regarding the nature of the visit, as stopping Iran's nuclear program is a top priority for President Donald Trump.

While the Trump administration has engaged in talks with Moscow to end the war in Ukraine, it has taken a hardline approach toward Iran, demanding a reversal of Tehran's nuclear, military, and regional policies.

Meanwhile, the US has suggested that Washington and Moscow might share a strategic interest in preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. Speaking to independent journalist Catherine Herridge, Senator Marco Rubio said Thursday, “There are things we could cooperate on geopolitically,” adding, “I’m not sure the Russians are fans of the Iranian regime having nuclear weapons.”

His remarks come as US and Russian officials held their first discussions in Saudi Arabia on ending a three-year conflict this week.

While Iran has close ties and military cooperation with Moscow under Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s “Look East” policy, some Iranian media have warned that Russia may not be a reliable partner and could shift its stance depending on its geopolitical priorities.