MANAMA /Bahrain/, October 18. /TASS/. Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, who is visiting Manama to attend the 9th round of the Russia-Gulf Cooperation Council Strategic Dialogue, was received by King of Bahrain Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin held a phone call with the King of Bahrain. The leaders spoke in favor of settling the situation around Iran politically and diplomatically with due account of the interests of countries of the region. They also agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the trade-and-economic and financial-and-investment spheres.

The Gulf Cooperation Council is a regional organization of six countries, namely Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, and Saudi Arabia. The organization's goal is to expand cooperation among member countries in all areas and to develop common positions on key international and regional issues.