Russia, China and Iran and began joint naval exercises in the Gulf of Oman, a crucial waterway near the mouth of the Persian Gulf, The Star reports.
Footage shown on Chinese state television and a video released by the Russian navy showed the exercise, known as Maritime Security Belt 2024.
The exercise involves more than 20 ships, support vessels and combat boats from the three countries, as well as naval helicopters.
The Russian forces are represented by the Slava-class cruiser Varyag. China has sent the guided-missile destroyer Urumqi and the guided-missile frigate Linyi to the exercise.
Iranian state television reported that Admiral Mostafa Tajaddini, the spokesman for the exercise, said the drills would take place in an area of 17,000 square kilometres (6,600 square miles) of water. Tajaddini added that the three countries’ exercise – the fourth since 2019 – also aims to improve trade, counter “piracy and terrorism, support humanitarian activities and exchange information in the field of rescue,” among other objectives.
Iran has stepped up military co-operation with Beijing and Moscow in response to regional tensions with the US. Observers of the exercise include Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Oman, Pakistan and South Africa.
The Gulf of Oman has been the scene of a series of attacks since 2019 that the US has blamed on Iran, as well as Tehran’s seizure of ships after the nuclear deal with world powers broke down. A fifth of all oil traded passes through the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf.
