The Goal of the Joint Maritime Security Belt Exercise 2025 is to Enhance Maritime Security in the Northern Indian Ocean

TEHRAN (Defapress) - Rear Admiral "Mostafa Tajeddini," Deputy Operations Commander of the Iranian Navy and spokesperson for the Joint Maritime Security Belt Exercise 2025  involving Iran, China, and Russia, stated during a joint press conference with commanders of the Russian and Chinese units participating in the exercise: "Today, we are witnessing the commencement of the seventh Combined Maritime Security Belt Exercise with the participation of the Islamic Republic of Iran Navy, which includes vessels from the Iranian Army Navy, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy, as well as vessels from the Russian Federation Navy and the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy."

Rear Admiral Tajeddini continued: "We have designed the seventh Joined Maritime Security Belt Exercise in 3 phases. The first phase is currently underway, and after receiving the visiting vessels and transferring their officers and commanders ashore for a briefing session, specialized briefings are being conducted in full, and technical meetings are ongoing."

He added: "Following the introductory ceremony, the maritime phase will begin tomorrow, during which we will carry out various serials, including the rescue of a hijacked ship, search and rescue operations, firefighting, heliborne operations, and other exercises designed with the use of aircraft and helicopters. After the rescue and liberation of the hijacked vessels, a maritime parade will be held. Additionally, following the exercises at sea, a debriefing and analysis of the exercise execution will be conducted."

The Deputy Operations Commander of the Iranian Navy further stated: "This exercise is being conducted on the initiative of the Islamic Republic of Iran Navy, with the significant presence of the IRGC Navy, and is centered around the countries of Iran, Russia, and China."

Rear Admiral Tajeddini noted that this year, 9 countries are participating as observers in the Jint Maritime Security Belt Exercise, stating: "Qatar, Iraq, South Africa, Oman, the UAE, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Azerbaijan, and Kazakhstan have sent observers, making a total of 12 countries participating in the exercise."

He said: "The goal of the exercise is to enhance maritime security in the northern Indian Ocean and to increase maritime interactions between the Islamic Republic of Iran Navy, the PRC Army Navy, and the Russian Federation Navy, to boost cooperation, skill-building, and experience-sharing. We are striving to expand these collaborations to other aligned and neighboring countries in the coming years."

Rear Admiral Tajeddini emphasized: "As you know, on land borders, a single country can establish security on its own. However, in the northern Indian Ocean and the vast oceanic expanse, aligned countries and those with shared interests must form coalitions to combat the scourge of piracy and maritime terrorism. Many countries form coalitions to protect their interests in the oceanic domain."

The spokesperson for the Joint Maritime Security Belt Exercise 2025  added: "We are also conducting the seventh phase of this coalition to safeguard the interests of the Islamic Republic of Iran and aligned countries with shared interests in the northern Indian Ocean."

Referring to the impact of the Joint Maritime Security Belt Exercise on the maritime security of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states, he stated: "In addition to SCO member states, the issue concerns all countries present in this region. As you are aware, global trade depends on the Golden Triangle and the straits of Malacca, Hormuz, and Bab-el-Mandeb. Ultimately, what we have chosen as our slogan throughout the various phases of these exercises is the establishment of peace and security, the preservation of security, and its collective enhancement."

Rear Admiral Tajeddini noted: "We have even invited and announced to the SCO member states and all countries present in the region that their participation can contribute to the enhancement of collective security."