Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif will meet on Monday to discuss the Iranian nuclear program and peace efforts in Syria, Russia's Foreign Ministry said on Saturday.
The ministry said in a statement that the meeting would take place during a working visit by Zarif to Moscow.
Relations between Russia and Iran have warmed over recent years, with both countries sharing hostility to U.S. foreign policy and backing for Syria's President Bashar Assad in Syria.
Moscow sees the recent nuclear deal, which offers Iran relief from sanctions in exchange for curbing its nuclear program, as opening the way to selling Tehran missile defense systems and winning lucrative new nuclear energy contracts.
The two ministers will discuss bilateral relations, "taking into account the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action for regulating the situation around the Iranian nuclear program," the statement said.
"An exchange of opinions will take place about key problems on the global and regional agenda, including overcoming the crisis in Syria."
Monday's meeting also comes amid a general diplomatic push by Russia in the Middle East, where Moscow is seeking to curtail U.S. influence and assert itself as an important peace-broker.
On Tuesday, Lavrov met with Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir in Moscow, and earlier in the month he travelled to Qatar, meeting al-Jubeir and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry.
The recent meetings also focused on efforts to forge an international coalition against the Islamic State, which have floundered because of differences over Syria.
Whereas Russia and Iran support Assad, he is strongly opposed by the U.S. and Saudi Arabia.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
