TEHRAN – The navies of Iran, Russia and China will hold military drills off the coast of Iran this week in a bid to boost cooperation, Iranian media reported on Sunday.
The three countries have held similar exercises in the region in recent years. The drills “will begin on Tuesday in the port of Chabahar,” located in southeast Iran on the Gulf of Oman, the Tasnim news agency said, without specifying their duration.
“Warships and combat and support vessels of the Chinese and Russian naval forces, as well as the warships of Iran’s naval forces of the army and the Revolutionary Guards,” are expected to participate, according to Tasnim.
The exercises will take place “in the northern Indian Ocean” and aim to “strengthen security in the region and expand multilateral cooperation between participating countries,” Tasnim said.
China will deploy “a destroyer and a supply ship,” Beijing’s Defense Ministry said on the WeChat social media network.
In February, the Iranian army conducted drills in the same area to “strengthen defense capabilities against any threat.”
Azerbaijan, South Africa, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Iraq, and Sri Lanka are among the countries that will attend as observers.
AN-AFP, 9 March 2025
