Iran, China, Russia to Hold Naval Drill Near Chabahar Port in Gulf of Oman

China, Iran and Russia will soon hold a joint naval exercise, ‘Security Belt-2025” in the waters near Chabahar port of Iran in the Gulf of Oman later this month.

The drill comes at a time of America threatening ‘maximum pressure’ against Iran and threat of new sanctions against China for aiding Iran and North Korea.

China will send the destroyer Baotou and the replenishment ship Gaoyouhu from the PLA Navy’s 47th escort task group. The Baotou is a Type 052D guided missile destroyer, and the Gaoyouhu is a Type 903A comprehensive replenishment ship, the Chinese MoD announced on its Weibo account.

 A Chinese expert said the drill will help safeguard security in the strategically important energy shipping lane.

Navies of China, Iran and Russia will hold the Security Belt-2025 joint exercise in areas near Iran’s Chabahar Port, the Chinese Defense Ministry announced in its official Weibo account on Sunday.

The drill will feature maritime target strike, VBSS (visit, board, search, and seizure), damage control as well as joint search and rescue operations, according to a statement from the ministry.

It aims to deepen military mutual trust and pragmatic cooperation among the participating countries’ troops, according to the statement.

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

The exercise will take place off the Iranian port of Chabahar in the Gulf of Oman, a crucial gateway between the Strait of Hormuz and the Indian Ocean, making it a strategic pathway crucial to energy shipping.

While no announcement has been made as to what ships Iran will send to the exercise, it is likely that the recently revealed Shahid Bhageri drone carrier will make its first presence in an international exercise