Russian and Iranian foreign ministers discuss possibility of conflict settlement

March 27 (Reuters) – Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov discussed the possibility of a diplomatic solution to the Iran war with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araqchi on Friday, Lavrov’s ministry said.

“Ministers discussed in detail the most difficult military-political crisis that has erupted in the Middle East as a result of the unprovoked American-Israeli aggression against Iran,” the statement on the ministry’s website said. The statement was included.

“Views were exchanged on the possibility of transforming the conflict into a political-diplomatic solution channel based on international law and taking into account the legitimate interests of all countries in the region.”

The statement also stated that Lavrov summarized the details of Russia’s latest humanitarian aid shipment to Iran.

Russia and Iran signed a strategic partnership agreement covering political, economic, military and energy cooperation, but this agreement does not include a mutual defense agreement.

Russia has been using Iranian-made unmanned aerial vehicles in its four-year conflict with Ukraine.

European foreign ministers used their G7 meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday to suggest that Russia is 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 had provided satellite imagery to Tehran and also helped Iran upgrade drones to mimic equivalent versions Russia used against Ukraine.

(Reporting by Reuters, Editing by Rosalba O’Brien)