Press release on Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s telephone conversation with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif

On October 17, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov spoke by telephone with Foreign Minister of Iran Mohammad Javad Zarif. The Iranian party initiated the call.

Sergey Lavrov and Mohammad Javad Zarif discussed some issues related to developments in the northeast of Syria. They expressed a common view on the necessity of attaining a secure and lasting stabilisation on the eastern bank of the Euphrates River based on respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Syrian Arab Republic by starting a dialogue between Damascus and Ankara as well as between the Syrian authorities and the local Kurds. The parties emphasised that both Russia and Iran are prepared to assist in such meetings.

The ministers agreed to continue the exchange of opinions and the coordination of approaches by the three Astana format guarantors to the Syrian settlement, including preparations for the start of the Constitutional Committee in Geneva.