In a significant demonstration of military cooperation, China, Russia, and Iran recently conducted joint naval drills in the Gulf of Oman as part of the Maritime Security Belt 2025 exercise.
The exercise, held near the strategic Strait of Hormuz, marks the fifth consecutive year that these three nations have come together for this important security operation.
The drills, which took place amid rising geopolitical tensions, particularly around Iran’s nuclear ambitions and threats from Yemen’s Houthi rebels, highlight a growing alliance in the region that has important implications for the US and the West.
Details of the Maritime Security Belt 2025 Drills
The Maritime Security Belt 2025 exercise focused on ensuring maritime security and countering maritime threats, a key concern for the region, which is home to some of the world’s busiest and most critical shipping routes.
The Gulf of Oman, adjacent to the Strait of Hormuz, is particularly vital as it handles about a fifth of the global crude oil trade.
Over the course of the exercise, naval ships from the Russian Navy, the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN), and the Iranian Navy worked together in a series of tactical operations, including joint naval gunfire, search-and-rescue missions, and anti-piracy drills.
The drill involved several key vessels, including the Russian corvettes RFS Rezky and Hero of the Russian Federation Aldar Tsydenzhapov, as well as the Chinese guided-missile destroyer Baotou and the supply ship Gaoyouhu.
Iran deployed a total of 10 ships, including frigates IRIS Alvand and IRIS Jamaran, alongside its Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy (IRGCN) vessels.
The exercise included a range of live-fire drills, with crews simulating attacks on enemy ships and unmanned aerial vehicles. These operations were aimed at improving coordination between the three nations’ naval forces, enhancing their ability to respond to regional security threats.
The Chinese, Iranian, and Russian navies kicked off a joint exercise near the Iranian port of Chabahar.
Codenamed “Security Belt-2025”, the exercise will include drills on striking maritime targets, damage control, and joint search and rescue operations. It aims to strengthen… pic.twitter.com/YqoHwhOeor
— CGTN Europe (@CGTNEurope) March 11, 2025
The Purpose of the Drills
The primary aim of these joint naval exercises is to bolster maritime security and counter regional threats.
The exercise took place in the context of rising instability in the region, particularly due to Iran’s expanding nuclear program and the increasing military capabilities of Yemen’s Houthi rebels.
The Gulf of Oman has been a focal point for tensions in recent years, with Iran’s naval forces seizing commercial ships and launching suspected attacks against vessels in the area.
The maritime drills are seen as a clear demonstration of the naval powers of China, Russia, and Iran working together to assert their influence in a region historically patrolled by the US Navy.
Iran, in particular, has been keen to highlight the significance of these exercises to bolster national pride and showcase military strength in the wake of multiple security challenges, including direct attacks on its defense infrastructure by Israel.
Iranian state-run media heavily covered the drills, broadcasting live-fire segments to the public, further signaling Tehran’s intention to project power and deter foreign interference in its regional affairs.
Iran, Russia and China continue joint military exercises
During the joint exercise “Maritime Security Belt 2025” in the northern Indian Ocean, live-fire operations were conducted during both day and night. pic.twitter.com/rSUn2QbHki
— Sprinter Observer (@SprinterObserve) March 13, 2025
Implications for the US and the West
The joint naval drills between China, Russia, and Iran signal an evolving strategic partnership that presents a growing challenge to the US and its Western allies.
While China and Russia are not active players in the broader Middle Eastern security architecture—traditionally dominated by the US Navy’s Bahrain-based 5th Fleet—their increasing cooperation with Iran in this region shows their commitment to safeguarding their interests, particularly when it comes to energy security and countering US influence.
For China, maintaining stable access to Iranian oil remains a priority, despite facing Western sanctions. Beijing has continued to purchase Iranian crude, often at a discounted price, and the growing military cooperation with Tehran reflects a deepening economic and geopolitical relationship. Russia, for its part, has relied on Iran for the supply of drones used in its war against Ukraine.
This military cooperation between China, Russia, and Iran has significant geopolitical implications, as it indicates a shift toward a more multipolar world order, where the US influence in the Middle East could be challenged by a new, coordinated axis of power.
For the US, these drills send a clear message that Iran is not isolated and that its military capabilities are increasingly being bolstered by two major global powers—Russia and China. The ongoing military presence and cooperation in the region complicate the security landscape for the US and its allies, especially as tensions continue to rise over Iran’s nuclear program. The US has long maintained that it will not allow Iran to develop nuclear weapons, and with Tehran’s uranium stockpile approaching near-weapons-grade levels, the risk of military conflict remains high.
Furthermore, the maritime security situation in the Gulf of Oman, already tense due to Iran’s actions and the growing threat of Houthi rebels targeting commercial shipping, places additional pressure on international shipping routes.
The US Navy, alongside its allies, is likely to continue monitoring the region closely, but the presence of Chinese and Russian naval forces in the area complicates the calculus for any potential interventions.
Conclusion
The recent Maritime Security Belt 2025 joint naval drills between China, Russia, and Iran in the Gulf of Oman represent a powerful display of military cooperation and a sign of the shifting geopolitical landscape in the Middle East.
For the US and its Western allies, this development underscores the rising challenges to maintaining security and influence in a region critical to global energy supplies.
As China and Russia continue to strengthen their ties with Iran, the US and its partners must adapt to this new reality and consider both diplomatic and military responses to safeguard their interests and regional stability.