Iranian and Russian naval forces are conducting joint exercises in the Gulf of Oman and the northern Indian Ocean, state-run Iranian and Russian media reported.
The Baltic Fleet corvette Stoyky has been in the port of Bandar Abbas in the Strait of Hormuz since 14 February. On the eve of the press service of the fleet reported that” Stoyky “together with ships of the Iranian Navy conducted naval training” Passex ” in the waters of the Gulf of Oman.
“Russian and Iranian military sailors synchronised actions to ensure the safety of civilian navigation,” the Russian Defence Ministry reported, publishing a video of the Russian ship’s manoeuvres.
Iran’s Mehr news agency reported that according to the commander of the Iranian Navy’s First Naval Region, Captain Hassan Maghsudlu, Russian and Iranian naval exercises are also scheduled for 19 February.
Earlier, Russian presidential aide Nikolai Patrushev and the Tasnim news agency announced joint manoeuvres in the Strait of Hormuz by Russian, Iranian and Chinese ships as part of the Maritime Security Belt-2026 exercise for the end of February. They have been held annually since 2019 at the initiative of Iran.
The exercises come amid tensions between Iran and the US. Washington and Tehran are trying to negotiate a nuclear deal. Iranian representatives talk about progress in negotiations, the US is amassing military power in the Middle East.
In January, US President Donald Trump announced that he had sent a “Grand Armada” led by the aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln to Iran’s shores. According to CNN, Trump speculated that he could launch a new strike on Iranian nuclear facilities.
Iranian and Russian naval exercises, The Wall Street Journal notes, are taking place near the “Abraham Lincoln.” Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has threatened to sink the aircraft carrier. “Even more dangerous than an aircraft carrier is a weapon capable of sending it to the seabed,” Khamenei said in a televised address.
The Axios publication says the White House is close to war in the Middle East and the campaign will be massive, will last several weeks and is likely to involve Israel along with the US. According to one of the journalists’ interlocutors, Trump is fed up with the long conflict with Iran. “Part of the entourage is cautioning against war with Iran, but I think with a 90 per cent probability we will see hostilities in the next few weeks,” one of the US leader’s advisers told Axios.
Iran and Russia hold joint naval drills amid tensions between Washington and Tehran