Memorial ceremony marking the 40th day of mourning for victims of "terrorism" killed in previous anti-government protests in Iran. (February 17, 2026)
Iran holds military drills with Russia after US talks
Note: AI technology was used to generate this article’s audio.
- Iran and Russia are set to conduct joint naval exercises in the Gulf of Oman and northern Indian Ocean this Thursday, aimed at enhancing maritime security and strengthening military ties immediately following US-Iran negotiations.
- Concurrent with these drills, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard (IRGC) initiated separate exercises in the Strait of Hormuz, which included a temporary closure of the strategic waterway for "security reasons" amid a heavy US naval presence in the region.
Iran will conduct joint military exercises with its ally Russia on Thursday in the Gulf of Oman, the Iranian Students’ News Agency (ISNA) reported Wednesday, citing a military spokesperson.
The announcement comes a day after talks between the Islamic Republic and the United States.
Spokesperson Hassan Maqsoudlou said the “joint naval drills” would take place in the Gulf of Oman and the northern Indian Ocean, with the aim of boosting maritime security in the region and strengthening ties between the two countries’ navies.
He did not specify how long the exercises would last.
Iran earlier announced separate drills that began Monday under the supervision of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
Iranian officials have repeatedly threatened, particularly during periods of heightened tensions with Washington, to close the strait, a vital route for global oil and gas shipments.
Iranian state television said the strait was closed for several hours Tuesday for “security” reasons during the military exercises.
The United States has deployed a large naval force in Gulf waters as part of its warning that it could intervene militarily if ongoing talks fail to produce an agreement.
Negotiations resumed in early February under the mediation of Oman. They were the first since the June war launched by ‘Israel’ against Iran, during which Washington took part in strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.
Tehran responded by striking ‘Israel’ and US military bases in the region.
Iran maintains that the negotiations are limited to its nuclear file, while Washington is seeking to expand the talks to include Iran’s ballistic missile program and its support for armed groups in the Middle East, most notably Hezbollah.
