Russia joins Iranian naval drills

Iran and Russia held “anti-terrorism and vessel protection operations” yesterday in the Gulf of Oman. According to Iranian Rear Adm. Hassan Maghsoudlou, its aim was “to enhance security and sustainable maritime interactions in the Gulf of Oman and northern Indian Ocean.” The drills come amid Iran’s temporary shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz for live-fire naval exercises and are designed as responses to the deployment of two U.S. Navy aircraft carrier strike groups to the region. Iran’s aggressive assertion of its control over the strategically important Gulf of Oman with Russia’s help will further provoke Europe to get involved in the region.