Lavrov in Bahrain for Russia–Gulf talks at start of Middle East tour ending in Tehran

Update, 10:09pm GMT Sunday: Lavrov met Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa for about an hour and held talks with Foreign Minister Al Zayani, the Russian Foreign Ministry said. It said both sides stressed the need to prevent a resumption of hostilities in the Gulf and to ensure freedom of navigation.

At a press conference after the dialogue, Lavrov said that, after preliminary expert talks, a forum could be convened to start developing what he called an inclusive security architecture for the Gulf, involving the Arab states, Iran and their neighbours, according to the ministry’s transcript and RIA Novosti. He said the US–Iran “Islamabad memorandum” still contained “everything necessary” to move from “the brink of resumed full-scale war” to negotiations.

GCC Secretary-General Jasem Al-Budaiwi said the GCC looked to Russia, as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, to play “an active role in urging Iran to comply with Resolution 2817 (2026)” and cease its attacks, the GCC said. He cited more than 7,000 missiles and drones launched at GCC states since 28 February.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov arrived in Bahrain on Saturday 17 October for the ninth Russia–Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Strategic Dialogue, held in Manama on Sunday, Anadolu Agency and Russia’s state news agency TASS reported.

He was met by Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani and GCC Secretary-General Jasem Mohamed Al-Budaiwi, according to the Russian Foreign Ministry. The GCC groups Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told a briefing this week that the ministers would exchange views on a broad range of international and regional issues, and that Lavrov would also hold meetings on the sidelines. TASS said the agenda included the situation in the Gulf and ways to expand trade, economic, cultural and humanitarian ties.

According to TASS, Bahrain is the first stop on a Middle East tour that will end in Tehran, where Lavrov is due to hold talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.

On 15 October, the EU and the GCC postponed a summit planned for Riyadh on 24 October, after the GCC cited continuing Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia.

The previous Russia–GCC dialogue was held in the Russian city of Sochi in September 2025.