BEIJING/MOSCOW: China, Iran and Russia are conducting joint naval exercises in the Gulf of Oman from March 15-19, the Chinese and Russian defence ministries said on Wednesday.

The drills, the 2023 edition of the “Marine Security Belt” exercises, will help “deepen practical cooperation among the navies of participating countries”, China’s defence ministry said.

Russia’s defence ministry said the active phase of the exercises would be on March 16-17, involving various joint manoeuvres including daytime and night-time artillery firing.