In a move seen as a show of support during mounting US tensions, Iran, Russia, and China have begun joint naval drills in the Gulf of Oman, aimed at increasing cooperation, and safeguarding trade in the region.



This comes amid the US establishing a joint naval coalition aimed explicitly at Iran in the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz. The joint exercises are to be held from Friday through Monday.



All three nations identified different priorities in the operation, with Iran saying it was about cooperation, China identifying trade, and Russia saying it was meant to fight terrorists and pirates along the coast.



At any rate, establishing the three nations as a unified front in the Gulf of Oman makes it clear that the US fleet cannot unilaterally do anything it wants to in the region, and shows that Russia and China, two of Iran’s few remaining trading partners, are supporting them.

Author: Jason Ditz Jason Ditz is news editor of Antiwar.com. View all posts by Jason Ditz