UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan will begin a visit to Russia on Thursday, amid rising regional tensions following U.S. threats of a possible military strike against Iran.

The state news agency WAM said Sheikh Mohammed will hold talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin on “various aspects of cooperation and joint action, and ways to develop them, particularly in the economic, trade, investment and energy sectors.”

The two leaders are also expected to discuss “a number of regional and international issues of mutual interest,” the agency said, without providing further details.

The visit comes as Russia has called for restraint and de-escalation, warning that any attack on Iran would lead to increased instability in the region.