Iranian and Russian navies to hold joint exercise in the Sea of Oman Thursday

JAKARTA - The Iranian and Russian navies will conduct joint maneuver exercises in the Sea of Oman on Thursday, following the latest round of talks between Tehran and Washington in Geneva, according to Iranian media reports.

Earlier, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on Monday launched exercises in the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a "challenge" for the US naval forces stationed in the region.

"The joint naval exercise of the Islamic Republic of Iran and Russia will take place tomorrow (Thursday) in the Sea of Oman and in the northern Indian Ocean," the ISNA news agency reported, quoting the exercise spokesman, Rear Admiral Hassan Maghsoudloo, launching Al Arabiya from AFP (18/2).

"The goal is to strengthen maritime security and deepen relations between the navies of the two countries," he continued, without mentioning the duration of the exercise.

Tomorrow's military exercise comes after Iran showed an optimistic tone following the second round of Oman-mediated negotiations in Geneva on Tuesday.

Previous talks between the two countries broke down following Israel's unprecedented attack on Iran in June 2025, which triggered a 12-day war that the United States had joined.

It is known that US President Donald Trump has deployed a significant naval force in the region, which he described as an "armada."

Meanwhile, Iranian officials have repeatedly threatened to block the Strait of Hormuz, especially during periods of tension with the United States, but the strait has never been closed.

As a key route for global shipments of oil and liquefied natural gas, the Strait of Hormuz has been the site of several incidents in the past and is back in the spotlight as tensions rise amid US-Iranian talks.

Iran announced on Tuesday that it would close part of the strait for several hours for "security" reasons during its own military exercises in the strait.