Moscow:<Text>

Russia and Egypt have jointly expressed support for an immediate ceasefire and a return to political and diplomatic efforts in the Middle East, as announced by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov during a press conference. The statement followed a meeting with Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty.

According to Anadolu Agency, Lavrov emphasized that the discussions centered on addressing the ongoing regional crisis, which he attributed to a joint military operation by the US and Israel. He urged the US to cease hostilities and restore the functioning of the Strait of Hormuz, rather than merely demanding its unblocking by Iran. Lavrov further noted that certain actions seem aimed at undermining negotiations regarding Iran, particularly criticizing resolutions that fail to acknowledge Iran as a victim of aggression.

In a related development, Abdelatty had met with Russian President Vladimir Putin the previous day. During their discussion, Pu tin proposed the creation of grain and energy hubs in Egypt and announced plans to increase grain deliveries to the country. Both nations underscored their cooperation on energy and food security, while also addressing the escalating regional tensions resulting from US and Israeli military actions against Iran on February 28.

The conflict has seen Iran retaliate with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf countries that host US military assets. These actions have led to casualties, infrastructure damage, and disruptions in global markets and aviation.