Joint naval drills: Iran, Russia, China flex muscles in Gulf of Oman
The navies of Iran, Russia, and China have completed joint maneuvers in the Gulf of Oman. This marked the fifth edition of these countries' annual exercises.
What were the objectives of the maneuvers?
On Wednesday, the navies of Iran, Russia, and China completed the fifth edition of joint maneuvers in the Gulf of Oman waters. Iranian state media showed footage of night maneuvers involving live ammunition and deck artillery.
According to earlier announcements, they practiced, among other things, attacks on maritime targets and conducting search and rescue operations. The Russians sent two corvettes and a tanker for the maneuvers. In contrast, the Chinese sent a missile destroyer and a supply ship, as reported in the communications from these countries' defense ministries.
Why are these maneuvers important?
The exercises took place near the strategically located Strait of Hormuz, a crucial trade route for the global energy market from the resource-rich Gulf states. Unlike the USA, China and Russia do not regularly conduct naval patrols in the Middle East, noted the AP agency.
However, Beijing and Moscow have extensive interests with Iran. China is the largest importer of Iranian oil, and Russia buys weapons in that country, which it uses in the war against Ukraine. The exercises were conducted when tension in the Middle East is growing again.
Iran rejected the US proposal
On Wednesday at 8:00 p.m. ET, Iran's Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, rejected the proposal made by US President Donald Trump to resume talks on the nuclear deal, considering it unreliable and backed by threats. Trump simultaneously maintains a policy of exerting maximum pressure on Iran through sanctions and promises not to allow Tehran to acquire nuclear weapons.
Also on Wednesday, Iranian-backed Yemeni Houthi rebels warned at 3:00 p.m. ET that they would resume attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden because Israel has not unblocked humanitarian aid for the Gaza Strip. Currently, there is a ceasefire on Palestinian territory, but the prospects for its extension are uncertain.
