Iran, Russia, and China to Conduct Joint Naval Exercises

TEHRAN, 9 March 2025 (BSS/AFP) – The navies of Iran, Russia, and China are set to hold joint military exercises off the Iranian coast this week, aimed at strengthening cooperation, Iranian media reported on Sunday.

The three nations, which share a common stance against what they perceive as American dominance in global affairs, have conducted similar military drills in the region in recent years.

According to the Tasnim news agency, the exercises will commence on Tuesday in the port of Chabahar, situated in southeastern Iran along the Gulf of Oman. The duration of the drills has not been disclosed.

A range of warships, combat vessels, and support ships from the naval forces of China and Russia will participate, alongside Iranian naval units from both the regular army and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the ideological wing of Iran’s military.

The drills, taking place in the northern Indian Ocean, are intended to “enhance security in the region and broaden multilateral cooperation between the participating nations,” Tasnim reported.

Additionally, military observers from Azerbaijan, South Africa, Oman, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Qatar, Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, and Sri Lanka are expected to attend.

China’s defence ministry confirmed that it will deploy a destroyer and a supply ship for the exercises, as announced on the WeChat social media platform.

Last month, Iran’s army conducted similar drills in the same region, aimed at “bolstering defence capabilities against potential threats.”

Background Context:
These exercises reflect deepening military ties between Iran, Russia, and China, particularly in the face of Western sanctions and growing tensions with the United States. The Gulf of Oman and the northern Indian Ocean are strategic maritime routes, and such drills serve as a demonstration of naval power and geopolitical alignment.

The presence of observer nations suggests an increasing interest from other regional and global players in such multilateral defence cooperation, particularly as the balance of power in the Indo-Pacific region continues to evolve.