Russia, Iran and China send ships for joint drills in Strait of Hormuz
Russia, Iran and China have sent warships to take part in joint naval exercises in the Strait of Hormuz, Russian presidential aide Nikolai Patrushev said in remarks published on Tuesday.
The drills, named “Maritime Security Belt - 2026,” will be held in the coming days in the strategic waterway, Patrushev told the Argumenty i Fakty newspaper.
Iran’s Tasnim news agency earlier reported that the three countries would hold their eighth joint naval exercise in late February in the northern Indian Ocean.
The drills will involve units from the Iranian navy, the navy of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, as well as Chinese and Russian naval forces, Tasnim said.
The “Security Belt” exercises have been held since 2019 at the initiative of Iran’s navy and aim to strengthen maritime trade security, according to the agency. The joint activities include counter-piracy operations, efforts to combat maritime terrorism and search-and-rescue missions.
