Iran will begin a joint naval drill with Russia and China in the northern part of the Indian Ocean, state media reported Tuesday.
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| warships during a Russia, China and Iran joint naval exercise in the Arabian Sea. Photo: Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP, File via timesofisrael.com |
Iran has stepped up its military cooperation with Beijing and Moscow in response to regional tensions with the United States, including by supplying military drones to Russia before the European nation invaded Ukraine in 2022. Visits to Iran by Russian and Chinese naval representatives have also increased in recent years.
A report by state TV quoted the drill’s spokesperson, Adm. Mostafa Tajaddini, as saying that “Marine Security Belt 2024” will begin Tuesday in 17,000 square kilometers (6,600 square miles) of the water. The drill, he said, is aimed at “fostering security and multilateral cooperation,” as well as showing the allies’ goodwill and naval capacities.
timesofisrael.com
