Russia will take part in joint naval exercises with Iran in the Sea of Oman on Thursday, Iranian media reported, in a move that comes shortly after the latest round of talks between Tehran and Washington in Geneva
Russia will take part in joint naval exercises with Iran in the Sea of Oman on Thursday, Iranian media reported, in a move that comes shortly after the latest round of talks between Tehran and Washington in Geneva.
The manoeuvres signal growing military coordination between Moscow and Tehran at a sensitive diplomatic moment, as negotiations between Iranian and US officials continue over key regional and security issues.
Earlier this week, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the powerful ideological branch of the country’s armed forces, launched separate drills in the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz. The exercises were widely seen as a show of force in waters where US naval forces maintain a significant presence.
The Strait of Hormuz, a narrow shipping corridor linking the Persian Gulf to global markets, remains one of the world’s most critical energy chokepoints. Any escalation in military activity in the surrounding waters is closely watched by Washington and its allies.
“The joint naval exercise of the Islamic Republic of Iran and Russia will take place tomorrow (Thursday) in the Sea of Oman and in the northern Indian Ocean,” the ISNA agency reported, citing drill spokesman, Rear Admiral Hassan Maghsoudloo.
“The aim is to strengthen maritime security and to deepen relations between the navies of the two countries,” he said, without specifying the duration of the drill.
The exercises come as Iran adopted an optimistic tone after the second round of Oman-mediated negotiations with the United States held in Geneva on Tuesday.
Earlier diplomatic efforts between the longtime adversaries collapsed in the aftermath of an unprecedented Israeli strike on Iran in June 2025, which triggered a 12-day conflict that briefly drew in the United States.
U.S. President Donald Trump has since deployed a substantial naval presence to the region, describing the buildup as an “armada.”
Iranian officials have repeatedly warned that they could shut down the Strait of Hormuz during periods of heightened tensions with Washington, though the strategic waterway has never been fully closed.
On Tuesday, Tehran said it would temporarily restrict access to parts of the strait for several hours for “security” reasons as its forces conducted separate drills there.
With inputs from agencies
End of Article
