TEHRAN – Iran's acting Foreign Minister has commended Russia's efforts on the Palestinian issue during its presidency of the UN Security Council.

Ali Baqeri Kani emphasized the urgency of halting Israeli aggression in Gaza in a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Tuesday.

This meeting took place on the sidelines of a United Nations Security Council session.

The two sides discussed the bilateral relations between their countries and reviewed the latest international developments. 

Baqeri Kani praised the recent advancements in Iran-Russia cooperation and expressed optimism that the legal processes for finalizing critical bilateral documents, including a comprehensive strategic partnership agreement, would soon be completed. 

Lavrov congratulated Iran on the successful conclusion of its presidential elections in June and expressed satisfaction with the progress in bilateral cooperation. He voiced Russia's concern about the potential for the conflict in Gaza to expand and affirmed his country's commitment to preventing such an outcome.

Iran, Kuwait call for strengthening all-out ties

Iran's acting Foreign Minister and Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Abdullah Ali al-Yahya met in New York, advocating for the enhancement of comprehensive ties between their nations.

Baqeri Kani highlighted the cultural commonalities and close relations between Iran and Kuwait, stressing the importance of cooperation for regional stability. He emphasized the priority of late Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi's administration in fostering strong relations with neighboring countries, noting the necessity of building mutual trust and enhancing economic ties to strengthen relations with Kuwait.

Abdullah Ali al-Yahya acknowledged the historical and cultural connections between Iran and Kuwait and expressed his government's readiness for comprehensive development of relations. Both diplomats underscored the need to strengthen bilateral relations mechanisms, including the Joint Economic Commission and political and consular committees.

==== Iran-Hungary relations to be expanded: Baqeri Kani

In another meeting, Baqeri Kani and Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó discussed bilateral relations and regional issues. 

Baqeri Kani congratulated Hungary on assuming the rotating presidency of the European Union and highlighted the positive trajectory of Iran-Hungary relations. He emphasized the need for regional stability and warned that any new provocations would harm those instigating conflict.

Szijjártó underscored the importance of diplomacy in bilateral and international relations and welcomed the strengthening of ties with Iran. He expressed hope for more robust dialogues during Hungary's EU presidency.

The two ministers also reviewed areas of cooperation and exchanged views on regional and global developments, including the situation in Gaza and the war in Ukraine. Baqeri stressed the immediate need to cease attacks on Gaza and restore peace to the region, warning that continued aggression, including attacks on Lebanon, would not go unanswered.