The India Navy has joined drills in the northern Indian Ocean alongside ships from China, Russia and Iran.
Surface ships from India are linking up with units from Russia and the Islamic Republic of Iran and its Revolutionary Guard Corps.
The exercise, which is the second involving Russia's navy and both Iran forces since December 2019 is being held in the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman.
Commander of the Islamic Republic of Iran Navy Rear Admiral Hossein Khanzadi said the India Navy was joining exercises. He said combined maritime security exercises with the participation of countries in the region and the world had been on the agenda of Iran since 2019.
"This time...the Russian Navy joined the exercise and the India Navy is scheduled to join the combined maritime security exercise," he added.
"India is one of the most powerful navies in the region. The presence of its navy in the exercise is very important for India and Iran."
Khanzadi said the exercise "means that the global arrogance that was present in the region to this day must realize that it must leave the region."
The exercise in the northern Indian Ocean aims to achieve collective security and participation, Khanzadi said. China's navy "joined the...navies of the Islamic Republic of Iran" in a December 2019 drill.
Khanzadi said China's ships will join the exercise after the Lunar New Year ends.
"The overall goal of the exercise is to achieve collective security at the regional level which will help sustain security in the northern Indian Ocean in a sustainable way for the benefit of stakeholders," Khanzadi said.
Military analysts said Iran had stepped up drills as the country sought to pressure U.S. President Joe Biden to reenter nuclear negotiations.
