Russian, Chinese naval vessels enter Iranian waters for major joint military drills

Flotillas of Russian and Chinese military vessels have arrived in Iran's territorial waters in the northern part of the Indian Ocean to participate in the large-scale Security Belt-2025 joint naval exercise, which will feature various divisions from the three powerhouses. 

Russian Rezkiy and Geroy Rossiyskoy Federatsii Aldar Tsydenzhapov corvettes as well as Pechenga fleet oiler of the Pacific Fleet, alongside Chinese Baotou destroyer and Gaoyouhu replenishment ship docked at Iran’s southeastern Chabahar Port on Monday.

They were received by commanders and officials of the Islamic Republic of Iran Navy and the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Navy upon arrival.

Representatives of several other countries, like Azerbaijan, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, South Africa, Sri Lanka and the United Arab Emirates, also landed at Iran's only oceanic port city to take part in the military drills as observers.

The main stage of the Security Belt-2025 naval military drills will kick off on Tuesday.

Iranian, Russian, Chinese forces to hold joint naval exercise: Beijing

Iranian, Russian and Chinese forces are set to stage a joint naval exercise in areas near Iran’s Chabahar Port and eye closer military cooperation.

Jamaran and Alvand frigates, Bayandor corvette, Neyzeh fast attack craft in addition to Ganaveh, Nayband and Bahregan auxiliary ships of the Iran Navy will take part in the exercise.

The IRGC Navy’s Shahid Sayyad Shirazi missile corvette, Shahid Rouhi fast attack craft, and Shahid Mahmoudi offshore supply vessel will also be in attendance.

‘Security Belt-2025 drills to boost security in northern Indian Ocean’

Iranian Navy's deputy head of operations, Rear Admiral Mostafa Tajeddini, says the main goal of Security Belt-2025 drills is to enhance maritime security in the northern tip of the Indian Ocean, and increase tripartite maritime interactions among Iran, Russia and China in order to elevate the level of cooperation, skills training, and transfer of experience.

He noted that the joint maritime drills will start on Tuesday, and will feature various scenarios like a mock rescue operation, VBSS (visit, board, search, and seizure), a fire drill, a heliborne operation and many other exercises.

Tajeddini noted that a naval parade will be staged following the mock rescue operation.

The high-ranking Iranian naval commander said that a debriefing session and a detailed analysis of the joint naval exercise will be held at the conclusion of the drills.

The Security Belt-2025 will be the fifth China-Iran-Russia joint naval exercise since 2019.

The drills, with an aim to “enhance military trust and strengthen practical cooperation,” will include simulated strikes on maritime targets, visit-board-search-seizure operations and search and rescue drills, the Chinese Defense Ministry said in a statement.

The Iranian naval forces and their Chinese and Russian counterparts have held several military drills in recent years to enhance the security and stability of international maritime trade.

They have also been involved in joint efforts aimed at countering piracy and maritime terrorism, exchanging information in naval rescue and relief operations as well as sharing operational and tactical experience.

Experts have long perceived the drills as a reflection of the increasingly robust partnership among the three powers, as they strive to counterbalance US dominance and challenge the Western-led global order.

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