The naval forces of Russia and China in addition to units from Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps conducted on Thursday exercises simulating the rescue of hostages and ships hijacked by pirates in international waters.
The maneuvers came on the third day of the Maritime Security Belt exercise in the Gulf of Oman and the northern Indian Ocean that started on March 12.
“The world has seen Iran, China and Russia form a new international alliance to ensure security in the northern Indian Ocean,” the drill’s spokesperson, Adm. Mostafa Tajaddini, told Iran's state television.
At the same time, Tajaddini claimed that other countries in the region are also happy to conduct these exercises initiated by Iran.
He added that special forces of the Iranian Navy and Iranian Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) as well as those from Russia and China conducted exercises on rescuing ships.
In the North Indian Ocean, the third day of exercise also saw training on ship firefighting operations.
China sent the guided-missile destroyer Urumqi, the guided-missile frigate Linyi and fleet oiler CNS Dongpinghu to the exercise, while Russia’s forces are led by the Varyag, a Slava-class cruiser.
According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, the main objective of the tripartite naval drill is to improve the security of maritime economic activity.
Military observers say the slogan of the drills “Maritime Security Belt” contradicts events happening in the Red Sea, where Iran-backed Houthis continue to attack ships passing the key global trade route.
Earlier this month, Iran said it will unload about $50 million worth of crude from a Marshall Islands-flagged tanker seized last year.
In January, Iran seized the Marshall Islands-flagged oil tanker St. Nikolas with Iraqi crude destined for Türkiye in retaliation for the confiscation of the same vessel and its oil by the US.
Early last November, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, an influential Iranian figure, called for obstructing oil and food exports to Israel. His call came two weeks before the first Houthi attack on commercial ships in the Red Sea in the name of solidarity with Gaza.
In August, Washington announced that over 3,000 US sailors and marines have entered the Red Sea in the Middle East aboard two US warships, to bolster its military presence in the region and to deter Iran from seizing and harassing merchant ships near the Strait of Hormuz.
