Iran, Russia Hold Naval Drills Amid US Military Build Up In Arabian Sea

"The drills are taking place primarily in the Strait of Hormuz, the Gulf of Oman, and the northern Indian Ocean. Known as the Maritime Security Belt, the annual exercises have been held since 2019 and have typically included China, though Beijing does not appear to be involved in the current drills. Iranian Navy Rear Admiral Hassan Maqsudlu told reporters that one purpose of the drills is to "prevent any unilateral action in the region," in what appeared to be an implicit reference to the US military buildup."

"The drills also included offensive formation scenarios aimed at improving tactical coordination, strengthening joint command and control, and rehearsing rapid response in operational conditions, with units practicing combined deployment and maneuver techniques. Participating forces included units from the Iranian navy and the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps Navy -- such as warships, missile boats, helicopters, special operations teams, and fast-attack craft -- alongside a Russian corvette Stoikiy and Iranian air force fighter jets."

"From the Russian side, it appears that only one warship took part in the drills. The Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), which held naval drills of its own in the Strait of Hormuz on February 16-17, is expected to be formally designated as a terrorist organization by the European Union this week. Noting Russia's low-profile presence, former Iranian naval officer Mohammad Parsi described the exercise as "small" and "symbolic.""

Iran and Russia conducted joint naval drills on February 19 in southern Iranian waters, focused on the Strait of Hormuz, the Gulf of Oman, and the northern Indian Ocean. The exercises, known as the Maritime Security Belt, have been held annually since 2019 and typically include China, which did not participate this time. Activities included aerial imaging, tactical formations, offensive formation scenarios, joint command-and-control rehearsals, and rapid-response drills. Participating units comprised the Iranian navy, the IRGC Navy, warships, missile boats, helicopters, special operations teams, fast-attack craft, a Russian corvette Stoikiy, and Iranian air force fighter jets. Russia contributed a single warship, and the IRGC faces an imminent EU terrorist designation; a former Iranian naval officer called the exercise small and symbolic.

Read at RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty