Naval forces from China, Iran and Russia are staging joint drills within the Gulf of Oman this week, China’s defence ministry has stated.

Other nations are additionally collaborating within the “Security Bond-2023” workout routines, the ministry added.

Iran, Pakistan, Oman and the United Arab Emirates all have shoreline alongside the physique of water mendacity on the mouth of the strategic Persian Gulf.

“This exercise will help deepen practical cooperation between the participating countries’ navies … and inject positive energy into regional peace and stability,” the ministry assertion stated.

The workout routines scheduled for Wednesday till Sunday come amid heightened tensions between the US and China over a spread of points, together with China’s refusal to criticise Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine and persevering with assist for the Russian financial system.

The US and its allies have condemned the invasion, imposed punishing financial sanctions on Russia and equipped Ukraine with defensive arms.

Iran and the US have been adversaries for the reason that founding of the Islamic Republic in 1979 and the taking of US diplomats as hostages.

China has dispatched the guided missile destroyer Nanning to participate within the drills centred on search and rescue at sea and different non-combat missions.

The three nations held related drills final 12 months and in 2019, underlining China’s rising army and political hyperlinks with nations which were largely shunned by the US and its companions.

Last week, China hosted talks between Iran and chief Middle Eastern rival Saudi Arabia that resulted in an settlement between them on Friday to revive full diplomatic relations after seven years of tensions.

While the US and Saudi Arabia have long-standing army and political ties, relations have frayed over the 2018 killing of US-based journalist Jamal Khashoggi, a critic of the dominion’s management, and cuts in manufacturing by the OPEC+ oil cartel that the administration stated was serving to Russia.