Can Russia serve as an economic lifeline for Iran amid the Hormuz blockade?

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg to discuss the war, sanctions, and the future of the Strait of Hormuz. Economic relations between Iran and Russia deepened after the US withdrew from the 2015 nuclear deal and Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. As Iran faces economic consequences from the blockade, it may seek to diversify its trade by relying on networks connecting it to Russia.