Iran: Iran and Russia will hold a joint naval exercise on Thursday in the Gulf of Oman and the northern Indian Ocean, an Iranian naval commander announced. The exercise will involve the Islamic Republic of Iran Navy and the Russian Federation Navy, with the aim of expanding joint maritime cooperation and strengthening coordination in combined operations.
According to Anadolu Agency, Iranian naval commander Captain Hassan Maqsoudlou emphasized that the exercise will take place in the Gulf of Oman and the northern Indian Ocean region. This initiative reflects both countries’ focus on regional developments and their commitment to enhancing maritime cooperation. It also aims to counter unilateralism and support maritime trade security.
Russia’s Navy Force Commander Captain Alexey Sergeev expressed readiness for joint exercises in any region, as reported by the Iranian official news agency IRNA. The Russian Navy’s helicopter carrier Stoikiy arrived at Iran’s Bandar Abbas naval base to participate in the exercise, according to the Iranian Mehr news agency.
The Iranian-Russian exercises coincide with a military drill by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in the Strait of Hormuz, conducted amid ongoing tensions with the US. A statement from the IRGC’s public relations division stated that the ‘Smart Control of the Strait of Hormuz’ exercise aims to evaluate the operational readiness of its naval forces.
In parallel, Tehran and Washington engaged in a second round of indirect nuclear negotiations in Geneva, facilitated by Omani mediation. On February 6, Oman hosted a round of indirect talks in Muscat amidst a US military buildup in the region.
