Chinese, Russian warships join military exercises with Iran

Chinese and Russian warships arrived in Iranian territorial waters to take part in military exercises with the Islamic Republic, Iran's state news agency reported Tuesday. 

The naval manoeuvres come against an explosive regional backdrop with the Gaza war and attacks by Yemen's Houthi rebels in the Red Sea. 

"Chinese and Russian naval units arrived in our country's territorial waters to take part in combined maritime exercises," Iran's official IRNA news agency reported. 

The exercises, which aim to "jointly maintain regional maritime security", will begin in the Gulf of Oman on Tuesday night, IRNA said, citing the spokesman for the exercises, Rear Admiral Mostafa Tajoddini. 

The Chinese Defence Ministry said it had sent a destroyer, a frigate and a supply ship to the exercises. 

Russian state media reported that a detachment of the Pacific Fleet, led by the cruiser Varyag, arrived in the Iranian port of Chabahar on Monday. 

"The practical part of the exercises will take place in the waters of the Gulf of Oman in the Arabian Sea," Russian agencies said, citing the Defence Ministry. 

"The main objective of the exercises is to improve the security of maritime economic activity," they added. 

The three countries, which share a desire to confront what they see as US hegemony on the international stage, have already conducted joint manoeuvres in the region in March.