Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and his Saudi counterpart, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, held talks in Moscow on 4 July, praising what they called “excellent” bilateral relations and announcing plans to convene the first Russian-Arab summit in October. Both ministers said the meeting would deepen a strategic partnership that has advanced on political, economic and energy fronts. The two diplomats used their joint press conference to emphasize diplomacy over force in regional conflicts. Prince Faisal urged full cooperation between Tehran and the International Atomic Energy Agency on Iran’s nuclear program and rejected military solutions, a position Lavrov echoed. Both sides also welcomed the current cease-fire between Israel and Iran and called for its durability. Lavrov and Prince Faisal reaffirmed support for the establishment of a Palestinian state along the June 1967 borders and underscored Moscow’s role in promoting Middle East stability. They said the October summit would broaden dialogue between Russia and Arab states on these and other regional files.