Iran, Russia, Oman Navies to Hold Drills in Indian Ocean, Iranian State Media Reports

A boat of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard at undisclosed location off the coast of Bandar Abbas, Iran August 2019. Nazanin Tabatabaee, WANA via AFP
A boat of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard at undisclosed location off the coast of Bandar Abbas, Iran August 2019. Nazanin Tabatabaee, WANA via AFP
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Iran, Russia, Oman Navies to Hold Drills in Indian Ocean, Iranian State Media Reports

A boat of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard at undisclosed location off the coast of Bandar Abbas, Iran August 2019. Nazanin Tabatabaee, WANA via AFP
A boat of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard at undisclosed location off the coast of Bandar Abbas, Iran August 2019. Nazanin Tabatabaee, WANA via AFP

Fleets from Russia and Oman have joined Iranian naval forces in preparation for a maritime drill hosted by Iran in the Indian Ocean, Iranian state media reported on Friday.

Helicopters and vessels of the navies of the Iranian army and of Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards forces welcomed the Russian and Omani fleets as they entered Iran’s territorial waters, said the reports.

The drills, due to begin in the coming days, come at a time of heightened tensions in the region, with Israel having said it will retaliate for Oct. 1 Iranian missile strikes launched in response to Israel's campaigns against Hezbollah and Hamas.



Putin: Palestinian Leader Abbas Invited to BRICS Summit in Russia Next Week

File - Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, right, shakes hands with Russian President Vladimir Putin, during a meeting in Bethlehem, January 23, 2020. (Alexander Nemenov, Pool via AP)
File - Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, right, shakes hands with Russian President Vladimir Putin, during a meeting in Bethlehem, January 23, 2020. (Alexander Nemenov, Pool via AP)
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Putin: Palestinian Leader Abbas Invited to BRICS Summit in Russia Next Week

File - Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, right, shakes hands with Russian President Vladimir Putin, during a meeting in Bethlehem, January 23, 2020. (Alexander Nemenov, Pool via AP)
File - Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, right, shakes hands with Russian President Vladimir Putin, during a meeting in Bethlehem, January 23, 2020. (Alexander Nemenov, Pool via AP)

Russia has invited the president of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, to take part in a BRICS summit in Kazan next week, President Vladimir Putin said on Friday, Reuters reported.

Putin also reaffirmed Russia's support for a two-state solution in the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians and said the issue would be discussed at next week's summit.

The BRICS grouping has expanded to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates as well as Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.