TEHRAN – In a first, Russia and China likely to hold joint Naval drills inIndian Ocean with leading Islamic country Iran, Iranian media has reported.
Iran is reportedly planning to stage a joint naval exercise with Russia andChina in international waters after the US announced plans to send troopsto Middle East.
“The joint drill will be held in the north of the Indian Ocean and the Seaof Oman,” Tasnim said, citing Brigadier-General Ghadir Nezami, head ofinternational affairs and defence diplomacy at Iran’s General Staff of theArmed Forces.
“We have made no plan whatsoever to hold such a drill in the Persian Gulf.”
[image: Iran to stage Joint Naval drills with Russia and China]
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The joint exercise will be the first by Iran, China and Russia in theIndian Ocean, Tasnim reported.
Notably, the announcement comes less than 24 hours after the US said itwould send a “moderate” number of American troops to the region andadditional missile defence capabilities to Saudi Arabia in response to lastweek’slinkonthe kingdom’s oil facilities.
