Iran, Russia launch joint maritime security drills in Caspian Sea

A joint maritime security exercise involving Iranian combat ships and a Russian naval ship commenced in Iran’s territorial waters in the Caspian Sea, according to Captain 1st Rank Abbas Hassani, Spokesman for the drills, who reported on July 22.

"The manoeuvres will involve both naval ships and naval aircraft, including the guided-missile destroyers Darafsh, Separ, and Paykan, two AB-212 helicopters, and the ship Shahid Basir from the Navy of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC, Iran’s elite armed forces). Also, the Russian ship SB-45 has recently entered Iran’s territorial waters and will take part in the drills," Caliber.Az reports per foreign media.

Representatives from Caspian littoral states are present at the naval drills as observers, Hassani added.

The first stage of the drills took place on Monday, with the navies of Iran and Russia practicing scenarios such as extinguishing a fire on a merchant vessel, rescuing people in distress, and managing the aftermath of such incidents.

The Iranian news agency Fars reported on July 21 that the Russian tug vessel SB-45 had entered Iran’s territorial waters in the Caspian Sea to participate in these rescue and maritime security drills.