Iran and Russia are scheduled to conduct joint naval exercises in the Gulf of Oman and the northern Indian Ocean on Thursday, February 19, 2026.
Hosted by the Iranian Navy’s First Naval District in Bandar Abbas, the drills aim to strengthen maritime security and deepen bilateral relations.
Primary Objectives include enhancing sustainable maritime interactions, coordinating actions against maritime terrorism, and protecting commercial vessels and oil tankers.
The exercises follow a military drill launched by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in the Strait of Hormuz on February 16, 2026, amid heightened regional tensions and a significant US naval deployment.
The maneuvers coincide with indirect nuclear negotiations between Tehran and Washington in Geneva, moderated by Oman, which concluded a second round on February 17, 2026.
This drill is part of a larger pattern of maritime alignment; a broader trilateral exercise involving China, known as “Maritime Security Belt 2026,” was also reported to be taking place in the region around this time.
By Anthony Solly
