China, Russia and Iran hold joint naval drills in Gulf of Oman

Naval forces from China, Iran and Russia are staging joint drills in the Gulf of Oman this week, Beijing has said, amid heightened tensions with the United States.

"This exercise will help deepen practical cooperation between the participating countries' navies … and inject positive energy into regional peace and stability," the Chinese Ministry of National Defence said in a statement on Wednesday (Mar 15).

It added that other countries were also taking part in the "Security Bond-2023" exercises, without providing details.

Iran, Pakistan, Oman and the United Arab Emirates all have coastlines along the Gulf of Oman, which lies at the mouth of the strategic Persian Gulf.