MANAMA /Bahrain/, October 17. /TASS/. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has arrived in Manama to participate in the ninth strategic dialogue between Russia and the Gulf Cooperation Council, a TASS correspondent reported.

Bahrain will become the first stop on the top Russian diplomat’s Middle East tour.

Later, Lavrov is expected to travel to Tehran for consultations with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.

The Russian Foreign Ministry’s official spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova, said Lavrov is expected to hold a number of bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the Russia-GCC dialogue.