At the UN General Assembly, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met and declared that only a diplomatic settlement can resolve the Middle East crisis. Concurrently, Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar held bilateral talks with both ministers amid pressure from the newly signed U.S. 'Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026'. While Iran offers to conditionally reopen the Strait of Hormuz, India asserts its commitment to energy security through diversified sourcing.
Russia-Iran diplomatic talks at UN
- ▪Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met on September 24, 2026, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.
- ▪Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi agreed that only a diplomatic settlement can resolve the Middle East crisis provoked by the United States and Israel.
Iran's proposals to the United States
- ▪Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated on September 24, 2026, that Iran will restart talks to reach a final deal if the United States implements the conditions of the June 2026 memorandum of understanding
- ▪Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated on September 24, 2026, that Iran offered to open the Strait of Hormuz in seven days if the United States meets the conditions of the June 2026 interim peace deal.
Statements by Iranian President
- ▪Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian thanked Russian President Vladimir Putin in September 2026 for Moscow's position on the US-Israeli war against Iran and stated they can resist United States unilateralism together
- ▪Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated in an interview published on September 24, 2026, that it is up to the United States to choose when the US-Israeli war against Iran will end
Russia-Iran defense cooperation
- ▪Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian signed a strategic cooperation partnership in 2025 that deepens bilateral ties and defense cooperation but lacks a mutual defense clause.
- ▪Russia and Iran have provided each other with military know-how and equipment.
Sanctions on Russia and Iran
- ▪The 'Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026' authorizes U.S. President Donald Trump to impose steep tariffs on Russian trading partners, such as India and China, in the oil and gas sector.
- ▪U.S. President Donald Trump signed the 'Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026' in September 2026, expanding statutory sanctions, tariffs, and prohibitions on Russia.
- ▪The 'Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026' extends existing United States sanctions on Iran.
India's relations with Russia and Iran
- ▪India hosted the BRICS Leaders' Summit in September 2026, which was attended by Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.
- ▪India stated it remains committed to ensuring energy security for its 1.4 billion people through diversified sourcing in response to the United States' Russia sanctions legislation.
Indian diplomatic meetings at UNGA
- ▪Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on the sidelines of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly to discuss bilateral issues, G20, BRICS cooperation, and the Ukraine crisis
- ▪Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi on September 25, 2026, to discuss the latest developments regarding the Gulf conflict sparked by the US-Israeli war against Iran
India-GCC partnership
- ▪Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar reviewed the progress of the India-Gulf Cooperation Council Joint Action Plan 2024–28 on September 25, 2026.
- ▪India welcomed the launch of negotiations for an India-Gulf Cooperation Council free trade agreement during the India-GCC Troika Ministerial Meeting in New York
Debatable claims
- ▪A diplomatic settlement is the only viable way to resolve the conflict with Iran
- ▪US policy is the primary cause of the conflict with Iran
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