Iran, Russia, and China are set to begin joint naval exercises in the Gulf of Oman this week, aiming to strengthen military cooperation and counterbalance Western influence in the region. According to Iranian media, the drills, named Security Belt 2025, will commence on Monday and involve warships, combat vessels, and support ships from all three nations. The exercises will cover a wide area, stretching into the northern Indian Ocean.
This collaboration is part of a growing alliance among the three countries, which share a common stance against what they view as U.S. global hegemony. Over the past few years, Iran, Russia, and China have conducted similar joint drills, demonstrating their willingness to deepen military ties.
Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency reported that the exercises will formally begin on Tuesday in Chabahar, a crucial Iranian port on the southeastern coast of Iran along the Gulf of Oman. The region is of strategic importance due to its proximity to the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint for global oil trade.
The drills aim to enhance regional security and naval coordination, as well as expand multilateral cooperation between participating nations. While Iran, Russia, and China are leading the exercises, other countries will participate as observers. According to reports, these nations include:
- Azerbaijan
- South Africa
- Oman
- Kazakhstan
- Pakistan
- Qatar
- Iraq
- United Arab Emirates
- Sri Lanka
China’s Defense Ministry announced that it will send a destroyer and a supply ship to participate in the drills. Russian and Iranian naval forces are also expected to deploy significant assets, though details on their fleet composition remain undisclosed.
The Security Belt naval exercises highlight a deepening military relationship between Tehran, Moscow, and Beijing. These countries have intensified joint operations in recent years, reflecting a shared interest in challenging U.S. dominance in global military affairs.
Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency emphasized that the exercises serve to bolster regional security amid increasing geopolitical tensions. The country has been expanding its naval capabilities, recently unveiling an underground naval base and a drone carrier. These developments come at a time of heightened tensions between Iran, the United States, and Israel.
Russia, meanwhile, continues to rely on its partnerships with Iran and China, particularly as it remains embroiled in the war in Ukraine and faces Western sanctions. Moscow has strengthened defense ties with Tehran, including supplying advanced military technology and purchasing Iranian-made drones for its operations in Ukraine.
China’s involvement in the drills reflects its broader ambition to project naval power beyond its immediate region. Beijing has been increasing its naval presence in the Indian Ocean, particularly through partnerships with countries like Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
The naval exercises come amid growing tensions between Iran and Western powers, particularly the United States and Israel. Iran has repeatedly accused Washington and its allies of destabilizing the Middle East, while the U.S. and Israel have expressed concern over Iran’s ballistic missile and drone programs.
In February, the Iranian military conducted separate defensive drills in the same region, aimed at strengthening the country’s capabilities against potential threats. These drills featured missile launches, drone operations, and electronic warfare tactics.
Meanwhile, the ongoing conflict in the Red Sea, where Iran-backed Houthi rebels have targeted international shipping, has further strained Iran’s relations with Western nations. The U.S. and its allies have responded with naval deployments and airstrikes against Houthi positions in Yemen.
The United States and its allies have closely monitored previous Iran-Russia-China naval exercises, viewing them as a challenge to Western influence in the region. Washington has warned that Iran’s growing military ties with Russia and China could pose a long-term threat to regional security.
NATO officials have also expressed concern that these exercises could be a sign of deepening military coordination between authoritarian regimes, particularly as tensions between the West and Russia remain high due to the Ukraine war.
Despite these concerns, Iran insists that the Security Belt 2025 drills are purely defensive in nature and aim to improve maritime security and combat piracy.
As the Iran-Russia-China naval exercises unfold in the Gulf of Oman, the geopolitical implications will be closely watched by Western powers. The drills underscore the growing strategic cooperation between these three nations, as they seek to counter U.S. military influence in the Middle East and beyond.
While Iran, Russia, and China frame the drills as part of routine military cooperation, their joint efforts reflect a broader shift in global power dynamics, with increasing challenges to Western-led alliances.
