Tehran and Moscow Agree There Is No Military Solution to Regional Issues

TEHRAN (ANTARA) – Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said on Monday (19 October) that Iran and Russia believe regional problems have no military solution and should be addressed through diplomacy.

He made the remarks at a joint press conference with visiting Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov after their meeting in Tehran, according to the official IRNA news agency.

Araghchi said insecurity in the Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz was a direct consequence of military aggression by the United States and Israel against Iran, which began on 28 February and has continued in various forms.

He said Iran and Russia were fully united in opposing what he called US “aggressive unilateralism” and would work together internationally to strengthen multilateralism and uphold international law.

Lavrov described his meeting with Araghchi as useful, transparent and open, adding: “We are witnessing rapid and sustained growth in bilateral trade.”

He also said Russian specialists and technical experts were gradually returning to the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant in southern Iran, and that there were broad prospects for cooperation between the two countries in hydrocarbon extraction and transit.

Lavrov arrived in Tehran earlier that day. Iran and Russia, both subject to US sanctions, have expanded their political and economic ties in recent years to counter the restrictions imposed by Washington.