• Chinese, Russian warships, battle vessels to participate in exercises.
• Exercises to expand multilateral ties between participating countries.
• Azerbaijan, Oman, UAE and more countries participating as observers.
  

Navies from Iran, Russia and China will hold military exercises off the coast of Iran this week in an attempt to increase cooperation, Iranian media reported Sunday.

The three countries that share a common desire to counter what they characterize as American hegemony have had similar exercises in the region in recent years.

The exercises “Beginning on Tuesday in the port of Chabahar”, located in southeastern Iran on the Bay of Oman, The Tasnim News Agency said without specifying their duration.

“Warships and fighting and support vessels from the Chinese and Russian naval forces as well as the warships for Iran’s naval forces of the army and the revolutionary guards” are expected to participate, according to Tasnim.

The exercises take place “in the northern Indian Ocean” and aims to “strengthen the security of the region and expand multilateral cooperation between participating countries”, Tasnim said.

The Ministry of Russia said in a statement that Moscow would be represented by two Corvettes and a tanker from the Pacific fleet.

“Over the course of several days in the northern part of the Indian Ocean, the crews will find out the tasks of the liberation of trapped ships, search and rescue at sea, as well as carrying out artillery that fires at sea and air targets,” the statement added.

Together with Pakistan, Azerbaijan, South Africa, Oman, Kazakhstan, Qatar, Iraq, United Arab Emirates and Sri Lanka will also attend the event as observers.

China will deploy “a destroyer and a supply ship,” said Pekings Defense Ministry of WeChat Social Media Network.

The Iranian army performed exercises in the same area in February to “strengthen defense ability against any threat”.