BREAKING: Iran and Russia Announce Joint Naval Exercises in Gulf of Oman
Iran and Russia to launch joint naval exercises in the Gulf of Oman starting Feb 19. Aimed at "countering unilateralism," the drills unfold as two US carrier strike groups and dozens of stealth fighters position for potential strikes amid a nuclear standoff.
Iran and Russia are poised to launch joint naval drills in the Gulf of Oman and the northern Indian Ocean starting tomorrow, February 19, as regional tensions simmer with a significant U.S. military presence nearby.
The announcement, first reported by Iran's semi-official Fars News Agency earlier today, highlights objectives like enhancing maritime security, combating terrorism, and boosting operational coordination between the two navies.
Iranian Navy Commander Captain Hassan Maqsoudlou described the exercises as a step to "expand joint maritime cooperation and strengthen coordination" in planning combined operations, according to state-affiliated IRNA.
The drills follow recent Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps exercises in the Strait of Hormuz and come amid U.S. warnings, with American carriers like the USS Abraham Lincoln positioned in the vicinity, per public tracking data.
Analysts see this as a counter to Washington's buildup, including over 50 fighter jets and warships, as indirect nuclear talks in Geneva continue without resolution.
The bilateral maneuvers, hosted from Iran's southern port of Bandar Abbas, reflect both nations' focus on regional developments and opposition to "unilateralism," Maqsoudlou added, signaling a commitment to securing maritime trade routes.
This appears to be the first public announcement of these specific exercises, made today through Fars and echoed by outlets like Mehr News Agency, though Iran and Russia have conducted similar joint operations in the past, including trilateral drills with China.