EAM Jaishankar scheduled to leave for Russia on Tuesday

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar is likely to have a stopover in Iran on Tuesday on his way to a four-day visit to Russia, where he is expected to hold a bilateral meeting with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi, people familiar with developments said.

Jaishankar is visiting Moscow to attend a meeting of foreign ministers of eight-nation Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) of which both India and China are members.

He is likely to have a meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif in Tehran before he leaves for Moscow, y said.

Jaishankar's trip to Moscow comes days after Defence Minister Rajnath Singh visited Russian capital to attend a meeting of SCO defence ministers.

On Friday, Singh held an over two-hour meeting with Chinese Defence Minister Gen Wei Fenghe on escalating border row between two countries in eastern Ladakh.

In talks, Singh categorically told Wei that India will t "cede an inch of land" and is determined to protect integrity and sovereignty of country at "all cost”.

An official statement said that Singh conveyed to his Chinese counterpart that China must strictly respect Line of Actual Control (LAC) and t make attempts to unilaterally change its status quo.

It was highest level face-to-face contact between two sides after border tension erupted in eastern Ladakh in early May.

Both Jaishankar and Wang are expected to hold a bilateral meeting on Thursday, people familiar with developments said.

two foreign ministers held a telephonic conversation on June 17 during which both sides agreed that overall situation would be handled in a responsible manner.

talks took place two days after Galwan Valley clashes in which 20 Indian Army personnel were killed. clashes escalated tensions manifold.

Chinese side also suffered casualties but it is yet to give out details. According to an American intelligence report, number of casualties on Chinese side was 35.

Tensions flared up again in eastern Ladakh after China unsuccessfully attempted to occupy Indian territory in sourn bank of Pangong lake a week back when two sides were engd in diplomatic and military talks to resolve prolonged border row.

India occupied a number of strategic heights on sourn bank of Pangong lake and strengned its presence in Finger 2 and Finger 3 areas in region to thwart any Chinese actions. China has strongly objected to India's move. However, India has maintained that heights are on its side of LAC.

India has also rushed in additional troops and weapons to sensitive region following China's transgression attempts.