Iran, Russia and China on Friday began a joint naval drill in the Indian Ocean aimed at boosting marine security, state media reported.

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Iran's state TV said 11 of its vessels were joined by three Russian ships including a destroyer, and two Chinese vessels. Iran's Revolutionary Guard will also participate with smaller ships and helicopters.

The report said the maneuvers would cover some 17,000 square kilometers, or 10,600 miles, in the Indian Ocean's north, and include night fighting, rescue operations and firefighting drills.

This is the third joint naval drill between the countries since 2019. It coincided with a recent visit by Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi to Russia that ended on Thursday.

"Improving bilateral relations between Tehran and Moscow will enhance security for the region and the international arena," Raisi said upon returning from Russia on Friday, the official IRNA news agency reported.

Tehran has sought to step up military cooperation with Beijing and Moscow amid regional tensions with the United States. Visits to Iran by Russian and Chinese naval representatives have also increased in recent years.

Iran has been holding regular military drills in recent months, as attempts to revive its 2015 nuclear deal with world powers flounder.

Russia is also at loggerheads with the US and the West over its neighbor Ukraine, where it has sent some 100,000 troops that Washington, Kiev and their allies fear will be used to invade the country.

Russia on Thursday announced sweeping naval maneuvers in multiple areas involving the bulk of its naval potential − over 140 warships and more than 60 aircraft − to last through February. The exercises will be in the Black Sea, the Mediterranean, the northeastern Atlantic and the Pacific Ocean, in addition to the joint exercise with Iran in the Indian Ocean.

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The Iranian and Russian militaries have kicked off a joint naval drill in the Indian Ocean aimed at boosting the security of maritime trade in the region, Iran's state TV reported on Tuesday.

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Units from Iran's Navy and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' navy will reportedly take part in the exercise dubbed "Iran-Russia Maritime Security Belt 2021" in the northern part of the Indian Ocean, spanning a stretch of about 17,000 kilometers (10,600 miles).

According to Iranian Adm. Gholamreza Tahani, the drill spokesman, a Russian destroyer, logistics ship and a helicopter were to participate in the drill. This is the second such joint Russia-Iran exercise since 2019, when the two nations plus China held a four-day exercise.

Tehran has been seeking to step up military cooperation with Beijing and Moscow amid regional tensions with the United States. Visits to Iran by Russian and Chinese naval representatives have also increased in recent years.

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The weeklong "Ramses 2019" included joint naval and air maneuvers in the Mediterranean. An Egyptian military statement said French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, as well as F-16 Rafale fighter jets, participated in the drill, as did a number of Egyptian frigates and modern rocket launchers.

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The exercise "reflects the enhanced military partnership and cooperation between Cairo and Paris," the statement said.

Mamdouh Hamed, a military expert with the Sadat Military Academy, told local media that the exercise was "aimed at unifying the battling experiences and the exchange of training on the administration of the naval and air fighting among different forces.

"The joint military drill promotes the military cooperation based on new war techniques and the modern method of battling," Hamed said.

According to Arab media, the training included various drills, such as the protection of an important cargo ship, the exchange of helicopters on the roofs of naval units, joint navigation exercises, a simulation of various naval battle formations, artillery training, raids on hostile targets, fighting nontraditional threats, and inspecting suspected vessels.

"The training comes within the framework of the Armed Forces' plan to bolster military relations with different countries," the Egyptian military's statement said.

In March, the Egyptian and French navies conducted a joint military exercise in the Egyptian regional waters with the aim of boosting cooperation. The same month saw Paris and Cairo's air forces hold joint aerial drills.

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