China, Russia, Iran to hold joint naval drills

COOPERATION. File photo of Iranian political deputy at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Iran Abbas Araghchi (2nd L), and Kazem Gharib Abadi (L) Iran's Ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), arriving at a meeting of the Joint Commission on Iran's nuclear program (JCPOA) at EU Delegation to the International Organizations office in Vienna, Austria, on December 6, 2019. Photo by Joe Klamar/AFP

BEIJING, China – China, Russia, and Iran will hold joint naval drills starting Friday, December 27, in the Gulf of Oman, Beijing and Tehran said, at a time of heightened tensions since the US withdrew from a landmark nuclear deal with Tehran.

Set to take place from December 27 to 30, the military exercises aim to "deepen exchange and cooperation between the navies of the 3 countries," Chinese defense ministry spokesman Wu Qian told reporters Thursday, December 26.

Wu said the Chinese navy would deploy its Xining guided missile destroyer – nicknamed the "carrier killer" for its array of anti-ship and land attack cruise missiles – in the drills.

But he did not give details on how many personnel or ships would take part overall.

For Iran, the drill's purpose was to bolster "international commerce security in the region" and "fighting terrorism and piracy," said senior armed forces spokesman Brigadier General Aboldazl Shekarchi.

The exercise would "stabilize security" in the region and benefit the world, state news agency IRNA quoted him as saying on Wednesday, December 25.

The US reimposed crippling sanctions on Iran in May last year after withdrawing from the international deal aimed at tackling the Islamic Republic's nuclear program, prompting Tehran to hit back with countermeasures.

Remaining parties to the badly weakened 2015 deal include China, Russia, Britain, France, and Germany.

China's foreign minister said the exercises were part of "normal military cooperation" between the three countries.

In June, US President Donald Trump authorized a military strike after Iran shot down a US drone, only to call off the retaliation at the last moment. – Rappler.com