Iran, China, Russia Plan Joint Naval Exercises

(MENAFN) Iran will conduct joint naval exercises with China and Russia in the northern Indian Ocean region during mid-February, Iranian media confirmed Saturday, as confrontation with Washington intensifies.

A news agency reported the eighth iteration of the collaborative maneuvers, designated the "Maritime Security Belt," will unite naval units from the three nations.
Iranian participation will include units from Iran's regular navy and the naval forces of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), alongside naval forces from China and Russia, the report added.

Operations are scheduled for mid-February in northern Indian Ocean waters.

The "Maritime Security Belt" exercises were launched in 2019 at the initiative of Iran's navy, the news agency said. Seven previous editions of the joint drills have been held since then.

The upcoming exercises unfold against a backdrop of mounting friction between Tehran and Washington following recent weeks' developments. US President Donald Trump's declarations about a "massive armada" advancing toward Iran, coupled with his directive for Tehran to "come to the table" for negotiations, have heightened bilateral strains.

Iranian officials have warned that any US attack would draw a "swift and comprehensive" response while reiterating that Tehran remains open to talks only under what it describes as "fair, balanced, and noncoercive terms."

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