Iran and Russia will conduct joint naval drills in the Gulf of Oman and the northern Indian Ocean later this week, Iranian news agency Fars has reported.
A senior official of the Islamic Republic of Iran Navy said that the drills will be part of "joint measures" intended to combat maritime terrorism and, "to counter activities threatening maritime security and safety."
Russian Presidential Aide Nikolay Patrushev meanwhile remarked that the exercises with Iran will be conducted to protect vital trade routes and to establish a "multipolar world order on the oceans" that would counter growing Western influence in the region.
These will be the second joint maritime exercises to be conducted by Iran this week amid ongoing tensions with Washington.
On Monday, February 16, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy held drills in the Strait of Hormuz to test new missile systems and to validate missile warfare tactics, according to Iran's Mehr News Agency.
