Iran
Background
Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran and historically also known as Persia, is a country in West Asia. It borders Iraq, Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan, and has coastlines on the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf. With a population of more than 92 million, it is among the world’s largest countries by both area and population, and its capital, Tehran, is the largest city and financial center. The country is divided into 31 provinces across five regions.
In international affairs, Iran is significant because of its size, location, energy resources, and role in regional politics. It holds some of the world’s largest reserves of natural gas and oil, making it an important actor in global energy markets. Its government is a theocratic Islamic republic in which ultimate authority rests with the supreme leader, and its political system combines elected and unelected institutions. Iran is also a threshold state with a heavily scrutinized nuclear program, and it remains a central issue in diplomacy involving Russia, the United States, Gulf Arab states, and other regional powers.
Iran has a long civilizational history that includes the Achaemenid, Parthian, and Sasanian empires, followed by Islamization after the 7th-century Muslim conquest. The Safavid dynasty re-established a unified Iranian state in the 16th century and made Twelver Shiism the official religion, shaping the modern state that later emerged under the Pahlavis and then the Islamic Republic after the 1979 revolution. In recent years, the country has remained at the center of regional conflict and sanctions pressure, including tensions linked to the Iran–Iraq War, proxy rivalry in the Middle East, and the escalation of hostilities in 2025 and 2026. Russian official statements in the database refer repeatedly to the need to de-escalate the situation around Iran and to coordinate responses to the conflict.
Timeline
Russia and Oman discussed the conflict involving Iran and called for de-escalation.
On the Telephone Conversation Between Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Sergey Lavrov and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Sultanate of Oman Badr bin Hamad Al-BusaidiRussia warned against drawing Gulf states into the conflict involving Iran.
On the Telephone Conversation Between Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Sergey Lavrov and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Sultanate of Oman Badr bin Hamad Al-BusaidiRussia said it was ready to help broker a diplomatic solution to the conflict involving Iran.
On the Telephone Conversation Between Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Sergey Lavrov and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Sultanate of Oman Badr bin Hamad Al-BusaidiRussia and Turkey discussed coordinating efforts to reduce escalation in the Middle East following US and Israeli strikes on Iran.
Press Release: On the Meeting Between Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia G.E. Borisenko and Turkish Ambassador to Moscow T. BilgiçThe strikes on Iran had contributed to heightened tensions in the Middle East.
Press Release: On the Meeting Between Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia G.E. Borisenko and Turkish Ambassador to Moscow T. Bilgiç
Documents
Telephone Conversation with UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan
Putin called UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed to mark his 65th birthday, discussed the deteriorating Middle East situation, and thanked the UAE for supporting Russian citizens there.
Telephone Conversation with President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev
Putin thanked Azerbaijani President Aliyev for facilitating the evacuation of Russian nationals from Iran and transit of humanitarian aid, and both leaders called for an immediate ceasefire in the Middle East.
On the Telephone Conversation Between Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Sergey Lavrov and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Sultanate of Oman Badr bin Hamad Al-Busaidi
Lavrov and Oman's FM discussed the conflict involving Iran, urging de-escalation and warning against drawing Gulf states in, with Russia offering to help broker a diplomatic solution.
Press Release: On the Meeting Between Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia G.E. Borisenko and Turkish Ambassador to Moscow T. Bilgiç
Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Borisenko met with Turkey's ambassador in Moscow to discuss Middle East tensions and coordinate efforts to reduce escalation following US and Israeli strikes on Iran.
On the Meeting Between Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia A.Yu. Rudenko and the Ambassador of Pakistan to Moscow F.N. Tirmizi
Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Rudenko met with Pakistan's Ambassador Tirmizi to discuss the Iran crisis and bilateral relations.
Press Release: On the Telephone Conversation Between Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Sergey Lavrov and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Bahrain Abdullatif Al-Zayani
Lavrov and Bahrain's FM discussed the US-Israeli conflict with Iran, jointly calling for an immediate ceasefire, negotiations, and condemning strikes on civilians and civilian infrastructure.
On the Telephone Conversation Between Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Sergey Lavrov and Minister of External Affairs of the Republic of India S. Jaishankar
Lavrov and Indian FM Jaishankar discussed the Iran situation in a phone call, backing SCO and BRICS efforts toward de-escalation and a sustainable settlement.
Press Release: Participation of Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia D.E. Lubinsky in a Side Event on Drug Use Prevention Among Youth at the 69th Session of the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs
Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Lubinsky highlighted Russia's role as a donor to UNODC's youth anti-drug initiatives in Central Asia at a side event of the 69th UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs.
Remarks by Yuri Ushakov, Assistant to the President of Russia, Following a Telephone Conversation Between Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump
Putin and Trump held an hour-long call covering the Iran conflict, Ukraine ceasefire prospects, and Venezuela's impact on global oil markets, their first since December 2025.
Press Release: On the Telephone Conversation Between Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Sergey Lavrov and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the UAE Abdullah bin Zayed
Lavrov and UAE Foreign Minister bin Zayed called for immediate de-escalation around Iran and agreed to coordinate positions at the UN on long-term regional security.
Meeting of the Supreme State Council of the Union State
Putin and Lukashenko held the Supreme State Council of the Union State in Moscow, signing a package of documents including directives on mutual legal protection, cross-border rail links, and a new Standardisation and Quality Committee, marking 30 years of Russian-Belarusian integration.