Smoke rises from the direction of an energy installation in the Gulf emirate of Fujairah in the UAE. (Photo: AFP)

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov held a phone conversation on Tuesday with Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, deputy prime minister and foreign minister of the United Arab Emirates, to discuss the escalation of tensions in the Persian Gulf.

The two stressed the importance of an immediate end to hostilities, which are causing human casualties and inflicting serious damage to vital civilian infrastructure, even in countries not involved in the armed conflict.

They reaffirmed their commitments to maintaining close foreign policy coordination between Moscow and Abu Dhabi to facilitate a peaceful settlement of the Middle East crisis, based on international law and with full respect for the legitimate interests of regional countries.