Lavrov praises trade with Iran, condemns 'illegal' US sanctions during Tehran visit

Russia’s foreign minister discussed regional developments with Iran’s top diplomat including the situation in Syria and the nuclear issue with Washington  

News Desk - The Cradle

Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov visited Tehran on 25 February and discussed several issues with his Iranian counterpart, including economic ties, US sanctions, and developments in West Asia. 

During a press conference with Lavrov, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stressed Tehran’s unwillingness to “negotiate under pressures, threats and sanctions.” 

“Direct negotiations between us and the US will be impossible as long as maximum pressure is in place,” he said, referring to US President Donald Trump’s renewed campaign of harsh sanctions against the Islamic Republic. 

Regarding trade between Tehran and Moscow, Lavrov said during the conference, “Despite the well-known illegal sanctions restrictions, our trade demonstrates positive dynamics,” adding that “last year trade turnover grew by more than 13 percent. There is every reason to suppose that this trend will persist.”

Lavrov also said he expected the quick implementation of a free trade agreement signed in 2023 between Iran and Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), an alliance made up of Russia, Kazakhstan, Belarus, and Armenia. 

“Our contacts continue in multisided format as well, first of all in the context of Iran being granted an EAEU observer status. We expect the intergovernmental agreement on free trade between members of the EAEU and Iran to take force in the near future. This will surely drive up trade turnover throughout our space with Iranian neighbors,” Lavrov added. 

The two diplomats also held talks on regional affairs, including Syria. 

“We have close stances on Syria. Iran favors Syria’s stability, calm, and protection of its territorial unity according to the will of the Syrian people. We support peace,” Araghchi said at the conference. 

They also discussed the Iran nuclear deal under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which Trump withdrew from in 2015. In the summer of 2022, the US and Iran were close to reaching a deal, yet the potential agreement was thwarted by heavy Israeli pressure and the start of foreign-backed unrest and widescale protests in September of that year. 

“We hope to find a solution. This crisis has not been created by Iran,” said Lavrov. 

Trump has said he is interested in nuclear talks with Tehran, but at the same time has begun his term with an aggressive campaign of sanctions, particularly on oil sales. The president has signed an executive order reinstating his “maximum pressure” policy against the Islamic Republic. 

The meeting with Lavrov coincides with a surge of threatening rhetoric against Tehran in western media. 

The Telegraph reported on 25 February, citing sources, that Iran has beefed up defenses around its nuclear facilities in preparation for an Israeli attack. Earlier this month, the Washington Post reported that US intelligence estimates say Israel is considering strikes on the Iranian nuclear program, which could potentially come this year.