Iran, Russia, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan plan to stage joint naval exercises early next month, Russia’s Defense Ministry said Tuesday, Tasnim reports.
The ministry announced in a statement that Russia would hold the drills in early September with small missile and artillery ships from three other Caspian Sea littoral states, namely Iran, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan.
Last week, a high-ranking Russian Navy commander said all naval exercises planned to be held jointly with Iranian forces will take place on schedule.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the deep diving competitions of the International Army Games 2021 in the southeastern Iranian port of Konarak on August 24, Deputy Commander in Chief of the Russian Navy Vladimir Lvovich Kasatonov pointed to the close coordination and constant contacts between the Russian and Iranian navies.
He said Moscow and Tehran will hold all of the joint naval exercises that have been planned.
The vice-admiral also said that diving competitions underway in Iran send the message of peace, and are aimed at boosting the capabilities of naval forces in rescue and relief operations in international waters.
The International Military Deep Diving Competitions 2021 are being held with the participation of diving teams from Iran, China, Russia, Venezuela, India, and Syria in southeastern Iran, and will continue until September 5, 2021. The tournament reportedly kicked off on August 23.
Moreover, Russian Ambassador to Tehran Levan Dzhagaryan was cited in a report by RIA news agency on August 23 that his country, China and Iran will hold joint maritime exercises in the Persian Gulf around late 2021 or early 2022.
Dzhagaryan said the drills are to “ensure the safety of international shipping and the fight against sea pirates.”
