Iran, Russia, China to Hold Joint Naval Drill in Persian Gulf: Envoy
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Russia’s ambassador to Tehran unveiled plans for joint naval drills of his country, Iran, and China in the Persian Gulf in late 2021 and early 2022.
In an interview with Sputnik, Levan Jagaryan said, "In the end of this year or the beginning of the next year (2022), the annual joint naval exercises CHIRU will be held in the Persian Gulf region. Russian, Iranian and Chinese warships are taking part in it.”
“The main aim is to practice actions on ensuring international shipping safety, and combating sea pirates," the ambassador added.
On the diving competition that the Iranian Navy is holding in the southeastern port city of Chabahar as part of the International Army Games 2021, Jagaryan said, "Along with Russia and Iran, China, India, Syria and Venezuela will take part in it. There are plans to hold a contest between dive teams of these countries' armed forces.”
The ambassador further said that Russia is not overreacting to the situation in the Gulf of Oman following a series of incidents with merchant ships, since it is confident that neither Iran nor its Arab neighbors are interested in further escalation.
"There are tensions indeed, especially following the tanker incidents in the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, but I would not be dramatic and say that the situation is more acute now than during previous crises. Neither Iran nor its Arab neighbors are interested in further escalation," he stated.
The ambassador said that the relations between Iran and Arab counties in the Persian Gulf are becoming warmer.
"The United Arab Emirates sent a delegation to Tehran to participate in the ceremony of (Iranian) President (Ebrahim) Raisi's inauguration. Iran and Saudi Arabia launched direct contacts. Russia welcomes dialogue in this strategically important region. This is one of the goals of our concept for collective security in the Persian Gulf, which we are promoting," the Russian ambassador concluded.