October 19, 2026
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov warned that the Middle East was on the brink of all-out war, calling for addressing the basic roots of the region’s crises, at a time when the Gulf Cooperation Council countries called on Moscow to use its influence with Iran to reduce the escalation and urge it to adhere to UN resolutions.
Lavrov’s statements came today, Sunday, during his participation in the ninth ministerial meeting of the strategic dialogue between the Gulf Cooperation Council and Russia, which was hosted by the Bahraini capital, Manama, on the sidelines of the 168th meeting of the Gulf Ministerial Council. During a joint press conference held with Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdul Latif bin Rashid Al Zayani and Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council Jassim Mohammed Al Budawi, the Russian Minister stressed the importance of continuing the close partnership between Moscow and the GCC countries, welcoming regional efforts aimed at preventing the region from sliding toward further escalation.
Lavrov explained that the discussions dealt with ways to find solutions to the crisis in Yemen, referring in the Palestinian file to US President Donald Trump’s plan regarding the Gaza Strip, which he considered “still a dead letter” and that the principles laid down in it “were not respected.”
On the other hand, the Secretary-General of the Council, Jassem Al-Budaiwi, extended an invitation to Moscow, in its capacity as a permanent member of the Security Council, to play an active role in getting Iran to adhere to Resolution No. 2817 of 2026, stop what he described as its “aggressions,” respect freedom of navigation, and engage in a serious dialogue with the Council countries based on good neighborliness, respect for sovereignty, and non-interference in internal affairs.
For his part, Bahraini Minister Abdul Latif Al-Zayani appreciated the Russian positions calling for reducing the escalation, expressing his hope that Moscow would use its relations with Tehran to push it towards compliance with UN resolutions.
Before the start of the official meeting, Lavrov held separate bilateral talks with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and his Kuwaiti counterpart Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, according to what the Russian Foreign Ministry announced.
It is noteworthy that the path of the Gulf-Russian strategic dialogue was launched in November 2011 with the signing of a memorandum of understanding in Abu Dhabi, and aims to enhance political coordination, economic, trade and investment cooperation, in addition to the fields of energy, education and scientific research, after its eighth meeting was held in the Russian city of Sochi in September 2025, and based on the joint action plan approved in July 2023 for the period (2023-2028).
