Iran, China, Russia hold third joint naval drills

Jan 21, Reuters - Iran, China and Russia held their third joint naval drills in the northern Indian Ocean on Friday, state TV reported.

The Marine Security Belt exercise takes place in the year 2022, over an area of 17,000 square kilometres and 6,560 square miles. Rear Admiral Mostafa Tajoldini, a spokesman for the drills, told state TV.

The drills will include various tactical exercises, such as rescuing a burning vessel, releasing a hijacked vessel, and shooting at air targets at night.

He said the exercises began in the early hours of Friday morning.

The three countries started joint naval drills in the Indian Ocean and the Sea of Oman area in 2019, Tajoldini said.

The purpose of the drill is to strengthen security and its foundations in the region, and to expand multilateral cooperation between the three countries to support world peace, maritime security and create a maritime community with a common future, Tajoldini said.

Since coming to office last June, Iran's hardline President Ebrahim Raisi has pursued a look east policy to deepen ties with China and Russia. Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian visited China last week and Iran's president met his Russian counterpart in Moscow on Thursday.