By Dimitri Simes
| February 17, 2021 | 5:49pm EST
A handout picture provided by the Iranian military shows a navy warship during a previous military exercise, last fall. (Photo by Iranian Army office/AFP via Getty Images)
Moscow (CNSNews.com) – Russia and Iran launched joint naval exercises in the northern Indian Ocean this week amid a continuing standoff between the regime in Tehran and the Biden administration over the Iran nuclear deal.
The Maritime Security Belt drills are scheduled to run from February 16-19, and will cover an area of 17,000 square kilometers.
Russia’s Baltic Fleet, which is participating in the exercise, said on Tuesday Russian and Iranian sailors would rehearse defending a ship from enemy fire, joint maneuvering, and rescuing a merchant ship captured by pirates.