Lavrov’s Tehran Visit: Iran Maintains Stance Against Direct U.S. Talks Amid ‘Maximum Pressure’
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov traveled to Tehran for high-level discussions with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, in what marked the first visit of a senior Russian diplomat to Iran since President Masoud Pezeshkian took office. During a joint press conference, Araghchi stated that Iran would not engage in nuclear negotiations with the United States under pressure. “There will be no possibility of direct talks between us and the United States on the nuclear issue as long as the maximum pressure is applied in this way,” Araghchi stated.
Yesterday, the U.S. imposed new sanctions on actors involved in Iran’s oil industry, advertising the enforcement as a step in the administration’s “maximum pressure campaign.” President Trump, himself, had indicated he was torn on signing the memorandum “restoring” maximum pressure earlier this month and hoped it would not be implemented much, though it has already been followed by two rounds of new sanctions designations targeting Iran’s oil sector. Araghchi, meanwhile, underscored that Tehran’s position is “closely coordinated” with Russia and China, with teams of legal, political, and technical experts maintaining continuous contact to ensure unity on key issues.
Araghchi informed Lavrov of Iran’s recent discussions with three European signatories to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), explaining that these talks focused on finding diplomatic ways to uphold the nuclear deal and address sanctions relief. However, he reiterated that dialogue with the United States is “off the table” until Washington halts its punitive approach. Lavrov expressed “optimism that there still exists room for a mutually acceptable settlement” and stressed the importance of relying on diplomatic channels rather than the “imposition of additional sanctions or force.” Iranian media reports suggest that one reason behind Lavrov’s visit was to clarify Tehran’s positions so Russia could convey them to the United States, especially given the changing dynamic between Washington and Moscow concerning the war in Ukraine under President Donald Trump.
During a separate meeting with President Masoud Pezeshkian, Lavrov was told that Tehran is “determined to strengthen interactions with Moscow,” according to Iran’s official government news outlet. President Pezeshkian asserted that Iran and Russia hold similar views on regional matters and that they seek to expand bilateral and international collaboration—especially through regional and global organizations such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the Eurasian Economic Union, and BRICS. Lavrov responded that “Iran and Russia share many common interests in continuing effective regional collaboration.”
This diplomatic trip took place shortly after high-ranking U.S. and Russian officials met in Riyadh to continue talks aimed at ending Russia’s war in Ukraine. Iranian officials and commentators have noted that any recalibration in ties between Washington and Moscow could have implications for Iran’s standing in nuclear and regional negotiations. Lavrov stayed one day in Tehran, also meeting with other senior officials to discuss an array of topics, including trade, energy, transport projects, and security concerns in Syria, the Caucasus, and the Caspian region. Iran’s ambassador to Russia, Kazem Jalali, described Lavrov’s mission as “more urgent than ever” in the current climate.
Meanwhile, Iran’s recent talks in Geneva with Britain, France, and Germany were confirmed by both the Iranian Foreign Ministry and Germany’s Foreign Ministry. These discussions, described as “constructive,” centered on lifting sanctions and preserving the peaceful character of Iran’s nuclear program per Iranian accounts. Tehran’s openness to talking with Europeans contrasts with its current refusal to engage directly with the United States, a position reinforced by Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who labeled direct negotiations with Washington under pressure as “neither logical nor honorable” earlier this month.
Following the election of Donald Trump, President Pezeshkian and Araghchi had expressed skepticism about the new U.S. administration but did not completely rule out talks if circumstances changed. However, Trump promptly reinstated “maximum pressure” sanctions against Iran, vowing to prevent the country from acquiring nuclear weapons while also suggesting he wanted a “verifiable nuclear peace agreement.” As it stands, Iran insists that diplomacy remains possible only under equitable conditions. Russia’s pledge to minimize the impact of unilateral sanctions and push for a constructive return to negotiations among all parties during Lavrov’s visit is notable, but both parties will likely need to adjust their diplomatic posture before productive negotiations can commence.