Ankara: Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi on Friday discussed the ‘grave military and political crisis’ in the Middle East, triggered by US-Israeli attacks on Iran. The Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that during a phone call, Lavrov also informed Araghchi about the delivery of a new batch of humanitarian aid to Tehran.

According to Anadolu Agency, the US and Israel have been carrying out strikes on Iran since Feb. 28, resulting in the deaths of more than 1,340 people, including then-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. In response, Iran has launched drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, as well as Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf countries hosting US military assets, which have caused casualties, damage to infrastructure, and disruptions in global markets and aviation.

Lavrov and Araghchi also discussed the possibility of redirecting the conflict toward a political and diplomatic settlement. They emphasized the need for a solution based on international law that considers the legitimate interests of all countries in the region.

The Russian Emergency Situations Ministry announced earlier the delivery of 313 tons of medical supplies to Iran, following the directive of Russian President Vladimir Putin. This marks the second large consignment of medical supplies, facilitated by Azerbaijan’s assistance, according to the ministry.