Iran and Russia began a three-day military exercise in the northern part of the Indian Ocean. Participants in the "Maritime Security Belt" drill include the Iranian Navy, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy, and the Russian Navy; the Indian Navy will also participate. The exercise will span 17,000 square kilometers of the Indian Ocean. Iranian Rear Admiral Gholamreza Tahani described the goals of the drill as combating piracy and terrorism and supporting international trade. China, Iran, and Russia conducted another naval exercise in the Gulf of Oman and the Indian Ocean in December 2019, and Russia hosted drills with China and Iran in September 2020.