Iran to hold joint naval exercises with Russia and China in the Sea of Oman and Indian Ocean

Iranian officials have announced that the country’s naval forces will conduct joint exercises in the coming days with the naval forces of Russia and China in the Sea of Oman and northern Indian Ocean, Iraqi News Agency reports.

The exercises are part of the regular “Maritime Security Zone” series, which focuses on naval cooperation among the three countries, maritime security, counter-piracy operations, search-and-rescue activities, and interoperability improvement. The drills typically involve warships and have been held annually since 2019, often beginning near Iran’s Chabahar port.

The announcement comes amid regional tensions, as well as following Iran’s separate naval exercises in the Strait of Hormuz on Feb. 1–2.