INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Russia, Iran ministers in high-level talks to end Mideast conflict

Russia, Iran ministers in high-level talks to end Mideast conflict

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Friday discussed the possibility of a diplomatic settlement in the Iran ​war with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araqchi, reported Reuters citing senior Russian officials.

There was an exchange ⁠of views on the prospects of shifting the conflict ​into a channel for a political-diplomatic settlement based on ​international law and taking into account the legitimate interests of all countries in the region, stated the report.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Friday discussed the possibility of a diplomatic settlement in the Iran ​war with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araqchi, Lavrov's ‌ministry said.

"The ministers discussed in detail the most difficult military-political crisis in the Middle East, which erupted as a result ​of unprovoked American-Israeli aggression against Iran," the statement ​on the ministry website said.

"There was an exchange ⁠of views on the prospects of shifting the conflict ​into a channel for a political-diplomatic settlement based on ​international law and taking into account the legitimate interests of all countries in the region."

The statement also said Lavrov outlined details ​of Russia's most recent shipment of humanitarian assistance ​to Iran.

Russia and Iran have a strategic partnership agreement covering ‌political, ⁠economic, military, and energy cooperation, but it does not include a mutual defence accord.

Russia has been using Iranian-designed drones in its four-year-old conflict with Ukraine, said the Reuters report citing Western security officials.

European foreign ministers on ​Friday used a ​G7 meeting ⁠with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio to press the case that Russia ​was helping Iran target US forces in ​the Middle ⁠East war.

Two Western security sources and a regional official close to Tehran told Reuters that Moscow has been ⁠providing ​satellite imagery to Tehran and also ​helped Iran upgrade its drones to emulate the equivalent versions used by ​Russia against Ukraine.