TEHRAN - Russia and Iran are firming up bilateral relations in a 'trusting' atmosphere, Russia's foreign ministry said early on Tuesday after its chief, Sergei Lavrov, was received by Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi during a visit to Tehran.

"In a traditionally trusting atmosphere, current aspects of the bilateral agenda were substantively discussed with an emphasis on further building up the entire complex of multifaceted Russian-Iranian partnership," the foreign ministry said in a statement on the Telegram messaging app.

Lavrov, who went to Tehran shortly after an Asia trip to China and North Korea, discussed energy and logistics projects with Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian.

Lavrov also participated in regional talks hosted by Iran, aiming to bring peace to the South Caucasus region after Azerbaijani forces last month recaptured the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh and forced thousands of ethnic Armenians to flee.

In addition to Lavrov, the foreign ministers of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Turkey participated at the conference titled “Peace, Cooperation, and Progress in the South Caucasus”. 

Addressing the conference late on Monday, Iran’s foreign minister said regional countries now have a historic opportunity to move towards peace and cooperation as “the war in the South Caucasus is over”.

Raisi wishes promotion of security and stability in the Caucasus 

In his talks with Lavrov, President Raisi said he hoped the Tehran conference within “the 3+3 format” would help promote security, stability and peace in the South Caucasus, according to the media office of the president.

Lavrov also emphasized that the issues related to the Caucasus should be resolved without the interference of foreigners.

In his talks with the veteran Russian diplomat, Raisi also pointed to the relentless Israeli atrocities against the people of Gaza, which have been described as instances of “genocide”, “war crime” and “crimes against humanity”.

The Iranian president also blamed the U.S. as a complicit in the Gaza war.

 “Today America is trying to achieve what it failed to achieve in the field in supporting the Zionist regime and securing its racist interests by passing a resolution in the UN Security Council,” Raisi stated.

He added, “The nations and free people of the world hope that Russia will prevent the realization of the intentions of the Americans considering Moscow’s position and influence in the Security Council as well as in the international stage.”

Lavrov also said one cannot remain “indifferent” to the events in Gaza and the violation of the rights of the “defenseless” people.

“U.S.-backed Israel no friend of regional, Muslim states”

Late on Monday, Raisi also received the foreign ministers of Azerbaijan, Armenia and Turkey.

In his meeting with Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov, Raisi said that the war on Gaza demonstrated that Israel will never be a friend to any Muslim nation or neighboring state because the regime only cares about advancing its own racial goals in the region.

The president made such a remark as Israel has been developing political and military relationships with the Republic of Azerbaijan.

He also noted that the United States and its Western allies completely support the Israeli regime’s atrocities against the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

In an open reference to the situation in the Caucasus, the president also said dialogue is the only way to resolve regional conflicts. He also reaffirmed Iran’s core position on conflict resolution with the involvement of extra-regional countries.

To support peace and stability in the Caucasus, he expressed optimism that those attending the second 3+3 format meeting would encourage positive collaboration and engagement among the regional nations.

Raisi pointed out that Iran, a significant and potent nation in the region, has always maintained the territorial integrity and national sovereignty of all nations and emphasized the value of resolving disputes via dialogue.

Elsewhere in his remarks, the president said one of the top objectives of Iran’s foreign policy is to develop ties with Baku in different areas.

For his part, Bayramov declared that Azerbaijan backs Iran’s position on resolving regional conflicts without the involvement of extra-regional countries.

He also praised Iran’s support for Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity, adding that Baku places a high value on deepening its relations with Tehran.

The senior diplomat from Azerbaijan also attacked the West for adopting a double standard approach in handling regional issues, such as the current events in Gaza.

He also demanded that Israel immediately end its onslaught against defenseless citizens in Gaza.

“West is not true friends of nations”

In yet another meeting with Foreign Minister of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan, President Raisi said that the Zionist regime’s atrocities against Gaza and the blatant support for such heinous crimes by the U.S. and its Western allies serve as a warning that hegemonic regimes and governments can never be a real friend of nations. 

Decrying the destructive role of the U.S., the Zionist regime and the Western countries in disrupting peace and stability in the Caucasus, the president said, “Today’s crimes by the Zionist regime in Gaza and the disclosure of supporting these crimes by America and its Western allies is a lesson for all countries to know that these domineering governments and regimes will never be their true friends.”

According to the presidential website, Raisi said the recent events in Gaza are evidence of the Zionist regime’s racist and apartheid policies against the nations in the region. 

It also shows how foolish it was to forge relations with the usurping Zionist regime, which the nations will never accept, the president pointed out.

“We are sure that what is happening in Palestine these days will end in the benefit of the Palestinians,” he said, denouncing the U.S. policy of backing Zionist atrocities against Gaza as a continuation of Washington’s disastrous strategy in the wars against Iraq and Afghanistan.

He went on to say that foreign intervention was detrimental to the region’s peace and stability.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran, considering its powerful and influential position, is ready to help resolve the existing discords between Azerbaijan and Armenia,” the president stated.

Mirzoyan, for his part, was pleased with Iran’s stance, which he described as firm and unambiguous regarding the events in the Caucasus. 

He underlined how important it is for the nations in the region to get together and communicate during this crucial time.

The foreign minister of Armenia also condemned the Zionist regime’s atrocities on civilians, particularly on women and children, in Gaza, emphasizing that Yerevan’s stance towards the oppressed Palestinian people is consistent with Iran’s.

In another meeting with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, the sides engaged in discussions regarding bilateral and regional developments especially the conflict in Gaza.