Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and his Egyptian counterpart Badr Abdel Ati on Friday urged the need for an “immediate” halt to the military conflict in the Middle East and a return to the political and diplomatic track to resolve ongoing disputes.

Lavrov, speaking at a joint press conference with Abdel Ati—who is on an official visit to Moscow—stressed the importance of strengthening security and stability in the Gulf states, Syria, Iraq, Jordan, and the Islamic Republic of Iran, emphasizing the need for dialogue to avert the risk of a large-scale explosion.

For his part, the Egyptian foreign minister warned that “the current military escalation will have dangerous repercussions on the world,” noting that it “threatens global energy security and food security.”

Abdel Ati revealed that Cairo is continuing joint efforts with Islamabad and Ankara to prioritize diplomacy, halt the escalation, and ensure the security and freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.