Iran eyes naval drills with Saudi Arabia, Egypt amid simmering regional tensions
The planned drills come on the heels of a recent joint exercise that Iran hosted in the Indian Ocean, as Tehran seeks to counterbalance Israel and curb US influence in the region's strategic waters.
TEHRAN — The commander of the Iranian Navy, Rear Adm. Shahram Irani, said his country was planning to hold joint naval drills with Saudi Arabia and Egypt as part of efforts to expand regional naval diplomacy.
In a state TV interview on Monday, Irani said both Saudi Arabia and Egypt "have shown interest" in collaborating with Tehran to conduct the exercises for the purpose of bolstering maritime security, particularly in the vital strategic corridor of the Red Sea.
According to the admiral, invitations have already been extended to both countries, and timing and logistics for the drills were to be "swiftly" ironed out.
The proposed exercises come as Iran seeks to boost its standing in the region and enhance its influence through building new military alliances. Last week, the Islamic Republic's navy hosted the combined Indian Ocean Naval Symposium Maritime Exercise, IMEX 2024, in the northern tip of the Indian Ocean. Among the key participants were Russia, India and Oman, while Saudi Arabia and Egypt attended as observers.
