Istanbul / Anadolu

The UAE and Russia discussed on Saturday ways to enhance efforts aimed at achieving security, stability, and sustainable peace in the Middle East region.

This came during a phone call received by UAE Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan from his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov, according to the UAE news agency WAM.

The agency said the two ministers discussed regional and international developments, and the current situation in the Middle East region.

They also addressed ways to enhance efforts aimed at consolidating security and stability and achieving sustainable peace in the region, meeting the aspirations of its peoples for development and prosperity.

The two sides also discussed a number of issues of mutual interest and ways to develop bilateral relations to serve the mutual interests of the two countries.

The call comes amid escalating military tensions between the United States and Iran, and fears of the confrontation expanding and threatening navigation security and energy supplies in the region.

For about a week, the United States has been launching successive waves of strikes on sites inside Iran, while Tehran responds with attacks on sites and bases it says are US military in several countries in the region.

On June 18, 2026, Washington and Tehran signed a memorandum of understanding that included a halt to military operations and the start of negotiations to reach a broader agreement.

But US President Donald Trump announced on July 8 of this month the end of the interim agreement after three ships were targeted in the Strait of Hormuz, prompting Washington to resume its strikes inside Iran amid escalating Iranian responses.

Washington demands ensuring freedom of navigation and its security in the Strait of Hormuz, while Tehran insists on imposing a mechanism to regulate the passage of ships through the strategic waterway, exacerbating fears of disruption of oil and gas exports from the region.