Politics Joint naval exercise between China, Russia and Iran
Russian and Chinese warships have arrived in Iranian waters for a joint naval maneuver. According to the Iranian military, Russia is participating with two destroyers and a supply ship, while China is sending a destroyer and a supply ship.
10.03.2025, 09:54
SDA
Iran is providing a total of ten ships with its navy and the Revolutionary Guards.
According to the Tasnim news agency, the main part of the maneuver near the coastal city of Chahbahar will begin on Tuesday. According to state media, military observers from Asia and the region, including Azerbaijan, South Africa, Oman, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Qatar, Iraq, the United Arab Emirates and Sri Lanka, are also taking part in the naval exercise entitled "Sea Belt Security 2025".
According to the Chinese Ministry of Defense, the exercise will include training in combating targets at sea, arrests and joint rescue operations. The aim is to deepen trust between the armies of the participating countries, it said.
Naval maneuvers in previous years
The waters between Iran and Oman are of particular importance for maritime trade. The Strait of Hormuz, which connects the Gulf of Oman with the Persian Gulf, is one of the most important shipping routes for global oil exports. In view of the military tensions with arch-enemy Israel, Iranian commanders threatened last year that they could block the strait at any time. Tensions have also recently increased again in the nuclear dispute.
The joint naval maneuvers between the three states have been held regularly in March for several years. In the face of tough international sanctions, Moscow and Tehran have recently significantly strengthened their relations. By participating in maneuvers in various regions of the world, Russia wants to demonstrate that it maintains a military presence despite its war of aggression against Ukraine, which has been ongoing for more than three years.
