Lavrov Says US Threats Will Not Halt Russia-Iran Economic Agreements

• Moscow affirms continuation of all economic ties and deals with Tehran.
• Lavrov asserted US pressure tactics are reportedly a sign of competitive weakness.
• Third parties cannot alter relations based on presidential agreements, Lavrov stated.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov confirmed that economic ties and existing agreements between Moscow and Tehran will continue as planned, firmly stating that American threats will not impact their implementation. During a joint press conference in Moscow with the Foreign Minister of Namibia, Lavrov addressed the issue of the reported 25 percent US tariffs on trade involving Iran, emphasizing Russia’s commitment to its partnership, irrespective of external pressure from Washington. This announcement solidifies Russia’s refusal to align its foreign economic policy with punitive measures enacted by the United States.

Lavrov strongly criticized the United States for what he described as a blatant disregard for international commerce regulations. According to the Russian Foreign Minister, the US ignores the very rules it helped establish and championed under the guise of globalization. He pointed out that such behavior underscores the lack of reliability among American partners, asserting that Washington consistently uses its trade and energy dominance solely for its own narrow interests. The use of direct pressure and threats, including the imposition of tariffs, was cited as evidence of this self-serving approach.

Responding to queries regarding the sustainability of the Russia-Iran relationship in light of recent developments, Lavrov insisted that Russia must proceed with its planned work and honor its commitments with Iran and other economic partners. He suggested that when a powerful nation like the US resorts to what he termed “uncivilized methods,” it reflects a deeper underlying issue: a continuous decline in America’s own global competitive position. This critique frames US coercive actions not as a sign of strength, but rather as an act of desperation.

Ultimately, Sergey Lavrov underscored the fundamental sovereignty of the bilateral relationship, stressing that no third party holds the authority to alter the nature of Russia-Iran ties. These relations, he concluded, are deeply rooted in agreements established by the presidents of both nations and are solely guided by the mutual interests of Russia and Iran. Furthermore, this statement follows a similar affirmation from the Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson just yesterday, who had deemed any US threat of military intervention in Iran as “unacceptable.”