DUBAI – Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi is scheduled to visit Russia and Belarus within the next two to three days, the Iranian Foreign Ministry confirmed on Sunday.
Foreign ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said the visit aims to strengthen bilateral ties and discuss regional and international issues of mutual interest between Iran and the two countries.
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The announcement follows Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian’s meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Turkmenistan on Friday, where both leaders emphasized cooperation on political, economic, and security matters.
In related developments, Iranian authorities seized a foreign tanker in the Gulf of Oman, reportedly carrying six million liters of smuggled diesel, highlighting Iran’s ongoing efforts to curb fuel smuggling by sea.
Iran, which heavily subsidizes fuel and suffers from a weakened national currency, faces frequent smuggling attempts to neighboring countries and Gulf Arab states, prompting stricter maritime enforcement and regulatory measures.
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While the vessel’s nationality and identity were not disclosed by state media, authorities confirmed the seizure underscores Tehran’s commitment to safeguarding national resources and controlling illegal fuel trade in its waters.