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Iran, China and Russia began this Friday, December 27, joint naval military exercises in the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean, not far from the Strait of Hormuz. The exercises will last four days, according to Iranian military officials.
With our correspondent in Tehran, Siavosh Ghazi
It is the first time that the three countries have organized joint naval maneuvers not far from the strategic Strait of Hormuz, through which a significant part of the world's oil transits.
These maneuvers " show that Iran cannot be isolated, " said an Iranian military official. According to some experts, this is a response to the actions of the United States and Saudi Arabia.
Increased tension in the Persian Gulf
These exercises come in a period of heightened tensions in the Persian Gulf, with a series of attacks against tankers last summer but also the oil installations of Saudi Arabia by the Houthi rebels of Yemen. The United States and Saudi Arabia had accused Iran of being behind these attacks. Iran also shot down an American drone in June, which almost provoked a military confrontation with Washington.
These maneuvers also take place in the midst of tension between Tehran and Washington after the withdrawal in May 2018 of the United States from the Iranian nuclear agreement and the return of economic sanctions against Iran.
A new triangle of maritime power
According to state television, which showed images of the Russian and Chinese warships in the port of Chahbahar, these maneuvers are the sign of the creation of a new triangle of maritime power.
This shows in any case the even closer rapprochement between the three countries against the United States, while Iran has relaunched its nuclear program in response to the American sanctions.