TEHRAN – Iran’s Navy Commander Hossein Khanzadi said that Iranian andRussian armed forces have signed a “classified” deal to expand cooperationthrough a series of projects including military drills in Iran’s southernwaters, the Press TV reported on Monday.

Khanzadi made the announcement during the opening ceremony of aninternational military diving competition in Iran’s southern Kish Island onSunday.

He signed the deal with the Russian Defense Ministry on behalf of Iran’sGeneral Staff of the Armed Forces during his trip to Moscow last week,Khanzadi added.

“Some articles of this agreement are classified but overall, it is aimed atexpanding military cooperation between the two countries,” he said, addingthat “the agreement can be called the first of its kind between the twosides.

“The deal is a turning point in military cooperation between Iran andRussia,” he pointed out.

Khanzadi also dismissed as “insignificant” the recent moves by the UnitedStates and Britain to, what he called, “escalate tension” in the Gulfregion.

The United States has been pushing its regional allies to form a coalitionforce to ensure the safety of foreign vessels sailing through the Strait ofHormuz.

The move comes following Iran’s recent seizure of a British oil tanker inthe Gulf for “violating the maritime regulations.”