India joins Iran-Russia joint navy drill; China also to take part

Exercises include shooting at sea and air targets and liberating hijacked ships, as well as anti-piracy operations.

Tehran, Iran – Iranian forces have launched a two-day navy exercise with Russia in the northern part of the Indian Ocean, with India also joining in and China expected to take part, too. Forces and vessels from the navy divisions of both the Iranian army and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) participated in the drill, which kicked off on Tuesday, alongside several vessels from the Russian navy. Admiral Gholamreza Tahani, spokesman of the drill, said the Indian navy had also requested and joined the exercise with a select group of vessels.