Alwaght- Iranian and Chinese Navies are conducting joint war-games in an area stretching from the strategic Strait of Hormuz to the Sea of Oman in the Persian Gulf.
The Chinese Navy flotilla partaking in the drill, which began early on Sunday, comprises of guided-missile destroyer Chang Chung, replenishment ship Chao Hu and guided-missile frigate Jin Zhou as well as a helicopter, is in Iran to boost relations and marine interaction between the two countries’ naval forces.
The Chinese warships berthed at the southern Iran port city of Bandar Abbas on Thursday after travelling there from a training mission in Pakistani port of Karachi.
The Iranian Navy has assigned its Alborz destroyer, a helicopter, and 700 personnel members to the exercise.
The event will conclude later in the day, and the Chinese fleet will then head for the Omani capital of Muscat. Earlier, the Chinese personnel visited tourist spots across the Iranian port city.
Last time a Chinese Navy flotilla arrived in the southern Iranian coast was three years ago. A high-ranking naval delegation from China visited Iran for talks in October 2015.
Subsequently, Iran’s Navy Commander Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari visited China’s eastern port city of Qingdao with a high-ranking team and held talks with military officials.
The Iranian Navy dispatched a naval group to China back in 2012, setting a new precedence in the countries’ bilateral naval cooperation.
Iran’s navy has boosted its international presence over the past few years, in particular to help guard commercial vessels in the Gulf of Aden against pirate attacks.
The Islamic Republic maintains that its military might poses no threat to other countries, and that its defense doctrine is merely based on deterrence.
