Iran, China and Russia to hold joint naval exercises in Strait of Hormuz

Iran, China and Russia to hold joint naval exercises in Strait of Hormuz

Iran, China, and Russia are set to conduct a recurring joint naval training exercise in the Strait of Hormuz, according to Iranian media. The Maritime Security Belt 2026 exercise, hosted in the southern Iranian port city of Bandar Abbas, comes as the U.S. Increases its military presence in the region following Iranian attacks on commercial tankers.

The exercise, which first took place in 2019, will involve naval units from all three nations. According to the official Iranian Mehr news outlet, the participants are expected to participate with various ships and operational capabilities to test coordination, tactical readiness, and rapid-response procedures in the Strait of Hormuz.

The maneuvers follow a separate, more recently planned drill by the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) dubbed Smart Control of the Strait of Hormuz. Those drills, which began Monday, involved the closure of parts of the strait and included the use of submarines, naval drones, and anti-ship cruise missiles.

Strategic and Political Implications

Nikolai Patrushev, a top aide to Russian President Vladimir Putin, described the exercises as part of a broader struggle between the U.S. And the BRICS alliance. Patrushev stated that the alliance should be given a full-fledged strategic maritime dimension, noting the relevance of the exercises in the context of U.S. And NATO efforts to seize Russian oil tankers and ongoing tensions between Washington and Tehran.

Captain First Rank Alexey Sergeev, commander of the Russian naval group, told The Telegraph that the level of cooperation demonstrates an ability to resolve maritime issues together. He stated that Russia is prepared to hold joint drills in any region, including anti-maritime terrorism operations.

However, some analysts suggest the military impact is limited. Former CENTCOM commander Joseph Votel characterized the move as a form of great power competition and a way for Russia and China to show support for Iran after having abandoned Iran last summer during Operation Midnight Hammer and Israel's 12-Day War. Votel added that the timing is likely intended as an internal message for regime supporters.

Tom Shugart, a retired U.S. Navy submarine warfare officer and adjunct senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security (CNAS), noted that while the number of ships may not pose a significant military threat, their presence could complicate U.S. Targeting if the administration decides to launch strikes against Bandar Abbas. Shugart warned that planners would need to ensure Russian and Chinese platforms are not inadvertently struck, citing the 1987 incident where the USS Stark was hit by Iraqi missiles.

Escalation in the Strait

The exercises occur amid a volatile security environment. U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) recently launched a series of strikes against Iran to impose heavy costs after Iran attacked three oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday. The targeted vessels included the Saudi-flagged crude oil supertanker Wedyan and the Qatar-flagged liquid natural gas (LNG) tanker Al-Rakiyat. The Qatari government described the attack on the Al-Rakiyat as a grave and explicit violation of the provisions of international law.

The U.S. Has since revoked a sanctions waiver that allowed Iran to sell oil and petrochemicals. A U.S. Official told CBS News that the memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Iran is entirely performance-based and that the revocation was a response to wholly unacceptable actions in the strait.

In response, Iran’s Navy Commander Rear Adm. Shahram Irani warned that the presence of extra-regional fleets in West Asia is unjustified and stated that the Iranian people would confront such fleets with greater power.

Regional Tension and Diplomacy

The military escalation coincides with the funeral proceedings for the late Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed on Feb. 28 in U.S. And Israeli strikes. His body was taken to Najaf and Karbala in Iraq on Tuesday, July 7, 2026, before being returned to Iran for burial on Thursday at the Imam Reza shrine in Mashhad.

Diplomatic efforts remain stalled. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated Tuesday that Iran will not resume negotiations with the U.S. Until Israel stops its attacks in Lebanon and fully withdraws from Lebanese territory. He emphasized that there will be no negotiations or agreement without the implementation of the clauses in the existing MOU.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Continues to flow assets to the region. This includes the Abraham Lincoln CSG and the Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group, which was recently reported off the Moroccan coast and may arrive in the region within four or five days.