•China, Iran and Russia began a joint naval drill known as “Marine Security Belt 2024” in the Gulf of Oman, a crucial waterway.
•China sent the guided-missile destroyer Urumqi and the guided-missile frigate Linyi to the exercise.
•Russia’s forces are being led by the Varyag, a Slava-class cruiser.
•The three nations’ drill — their fourth since 2019 — was also meant to improve trade, confront “piracy and terrorism, support to humanitarian activities and the exchange of information in the field of rescue,” among other goals.
•Iran has stepped up its military cooperation with Beijing and Moscow in response to regional tensions with the U.S., including the supply of military drones to Russia now being used in Moscow’s war on Ukraine.
•Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Oman, Pakistan and South Africa are observers of the drill.
•U.S. has blamed many Gulf of Oman attacks since 2019 on Iran.