"An additional negative factor for ensuring global food security is the significantly increasing cost of shipping freight, which affects the profitability of agribusiness. Thus, the continuation of the crisis in the Middle East endangers global food security," Maslennikov said in a statement.
If the Strait of Hormuz were blocked for three months or more, the countries of the region could face the threat of food shortages, the statement notes.
"Meanwhile, against the background of the further development of the conflict in the Middle East, attempts to artificially undermine Russia's internal food security by destructive external forces cannot be ruled out," Maslennikov said.
That said, Russia is in a strong enough position to boost food supplies to the Middle East, Asia, Africa and Latin America, the official added.