China, Russia, Iran staff up for army workouts in Middle East

U.S. rivals China, Russia and Iran will conduct joint naval drills within the Gulf of Oman this week, off the southern coast of Iran, China’s Defense Ministry introduced.

Other unnamed international locations will take part within the so-called “Security Bond-2023” army workouts, the People’s Republic of China mentioned Tuesday. Iran, Pakistan, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates every have shoreline that touches the gulf, which lies on the mouth of the strategic Persian Gulf.

“This train will assist deepen sensible cooperation between the taking part international locations’ navies … and inject optimistic power into regional peace and stability,” the ministry assertion mentioned.

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In this file picture offered by the Iranian Army, warships sail within the Sea of Oman throughout the second day of joint Iran, Russia and China naval battle video games on Dec. 28 2019.  (Iranian Army through AP, File)

The workouts will start Wednesday and proceed by way of March 19. They come as U.S. relations with every nation have deteriorated — Russia has provoked sanctions from the U.S. and its allies by invading Ukraine, China has refused to criticize Moscow and is aiding the Russian financial system in defiance of the west, and in Iran’s case there is no such thing as a relationship to talk of. The U.S. and Iran have been adversaries because the founding of the Islamic Republic in 1979 and the taking of U.S. hostages. 

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

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Naval forces from China, Iran and Russia — all international locations at various levels of odds with the United States — are staging joint drills within the Gulf of Oman this week, China’s Defense Ministry has introduced. Other international locations are additionally collaborating within the “Security Bond-2023” workouts, the ministry mentioned Tuesday, March 14, 2023, with out giving particulars. (LiLi Yun/Xinhua through Getty Images Yun/Xinhua through Getty Images)

The three international locations held comparable army workouts final yr and in 2019, as China has sought to strengthen its ties to nations at odds with the U.S. and broaden its affect within the Middle East to realize entry to power and hydrocarbons from the area. 

China brokered a deal made Friday between Iran and Saudi Arabia to finish years of hostility and re-engage in diplomatic relations, following beforehand undisclosed conferences in Beijing between prime safety officers from the rival powers.

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Chinese President Xi Jinping holds talks with Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud on the royal palace in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Dec. 8, 2022.  (Yue Yuewei/Xinhua through Getty Images)

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

Fox News’ Peter Aitken and the Associated Press contributed to this report.