Photo courtesy of Anadolu
Russia is backing Iran’s inclusion in a wider Gulf security arrangement that could bring together regional powers in a collective defense framework, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Monday.
Moscow believes establishing conditions for Tehran to participate would be a practical way to create a more inclusive security system in a region marked by heightened military and political tensions, Lavrov told students and faculty at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations.
The proposal builds on a Russian initiative dating back more than two decades that sought direct security talks between Iran and the Gulf states. The idea centered on resolving disputes through dialogue and adopting confidence-building measures rather than excluding regional rivals.
Russia had also envisioned a supporting role for major international and regional organizations, including the Arab League, Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council.
More recently, Moscow has pointed to the Saudi-Iranian rapprochement as evidence that competing regional powers can rebuild diplomatic ties. Riyadh and Tehran restored relations in 2023 following negotiations brokered by China after years of estrangement.
Russia is now looking at the Mecca Agreement promoted by Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Türkiye as a potential vehicle for a broader collective security and defensive arrangement. Lavrov said its openness to additional participants could allow the framework to expand beyond its original members.
Egypt has been discussed as another possible participant, while Algeria could also contribute if it expressed interest, according to Lavrov. Moscow believes eventually bringing Iran into the structure would move the region closer to the security architecture Russia has advocated.
Lavrov said Russia was prepared to support the process without seeking to lead it, suggesting that participating countries should have the central role in determining the structure and membership of any future regional security system.