Iran, Russia and China Begin Joint Naval Drill

A handout photo made available by the Iranian Army office on December 28, 2019 shows a view of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy Surface Force Type 052D destroyer Xining (117), the Republic of Iran Navy frigate ALBORZ (72), and the Russian Navy Neustrashimyy-class frigate Yaroslav Mudry during joint Iran-Russia-China naval drills in the Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Oman. (AFP)
A handout photo made available by the Iranian Army office on December 28, 2019 shows a view of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy Surface Force Type 052D destroyer Xining (117), the Republic of Iran Navy frigate ALBORZ (72), and the Russian Navy Neustrashimyy-class frigate Yaroslav Mudry during joint Iran-Russia-China naval drills in the Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Oman. (AFP)
TT
20

Iran, Russia and China Begin Joint Naval Drill

A handout photo made available by the Iranian Army office on December 28, 2019 shows a view of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy Surface Force Type 052D destroyer Xining (117), the Republic of Iran Navy frigate ALBORZ (72), and the Russian Navy Neustrashimyy-class frigate Yaroslav Mudry during joint Iran-Russia-China naval drills in the Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Oman. (AFP)
A handout photo made available by the Iranian Army office on December 28, 2019 shows a view of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy Surface Force Type 052D destroyer Xining (117), the Republic of Iran Navy frigate ALBORZ (72), and the Russian Navy Neustrashimyy-class frigate Yaroslav Mudry during joint Iran-Russia-China naval drills in the Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Oman. (AFP)

Iran, Russia and China on Friday began a joint naval drill in the Indian Ocean aimed at boosting marine security, state media reported.

Iran's state TV said 11 of its vessels were joined by three Russian ships including a destroyer, and two Chinese vessels. Iran's Revolutionary Guard will also participate with smaller ships and helicopters.

The report said the maneuvers would cover some 17,000 square kilometers, or 10,600 miles, in the Indian Ocean's north, and include night fighting, rescue operations and firefighting drills, The Associated Press reported.

This is the third joint naval drill between the countries since 2019. It coincided with a recent visit by Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi to Russia that ended on Thursday.

“Improving bilateral relations between Tehran and Moscow will enhance security for the region and the international arena,” Raisi said upon returning from Russia on Friday, the official IRNA news agency reported.

Tehran has sought to step up military cooperation with Beijing and Moscow amid regional tensions with the United States. Visits to Iran by Russian and Chinese naval representatives have also increased in recent years.

Iran has been holding regular military drills in recent months, as attempts to revive its 2015 nuclear deal with world powers flounder.

Russia is also at loggerheads with the US and the West over its neighbor Ukraine, where it has sent some 100,000 troops that Washington, Kiev and their allies fear will be used to invade the country.

Russia on Thursday announced sweeping naval maneuvers in multiple areas involving the bulk of its naval potential — over 140 warships and more than 60 aircraft — to last through February. The exercises will be in the Black Sea, the Mediterranean, the northeastern Atlantic and the Pacific Ocean, in addition to the joint exercise with Iran in the Indian Ocean.



Russia's Lavrov to Discuss Turkish Role in Ending Ukraine War in Visit

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov attends a press conference in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia February 18, 2025. Russian Foreign Ministry/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov attends a press conference in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia February 18, 2025. Russian Foreign Ministry/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo
TT
20

Russia's Lavrov to Discuss Turkish Role in Ending Ukraine War in Visit

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov attends a press conference in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia February 18, 2025. Russian Foreign Ministry/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov attends a press conference in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia February 18, 2025. Russian Foreign Ministry/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will visit Türkiye on Monday to discuss his country's recent talks with US officials on ending the war in Ukraine, and how Ankara can contribute to the process, a Turkish foreign ministry source said on Sunday.

NATO-member Türkiye, which hosted initial negotiations between Russia and Ukraine months after the war began in 2022, "is ready to assume this role in the upcoming period", the source said, requesting anonymity, Reuters reported.

Lavrov's visit coincides with the three-year anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

The source added that Lavrov and his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan would also discuss the ceasefire in Gaza and the situation in Syria, where Türkiye will emphasize the need for Syrian territorial unity and the expulsion of terrorists.

US and Russian negotiators met in Riyadh last week to discuss ending the conflict in Ukraine, without Kyiv's participation. On the same day, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy met Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara.

The Turkish source said the sides on Monday would discuss steps toward "a just and lasting peace through diplomatic efforts, recent contacts between the US and Russia and the contributions that Türkiye can make to the process".