Iran, China and Russia launch annual joint naval drills

Russian and Chinese warships arrived in waters off Iran on Monday for annual naval drills between the three countries. The main phase of the drills, known as Marine Security Belt, will begin on Tuesday near the port city of Chabahar on the Gulf of Oman. 

Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency said the drills aim to "strengthen security in the region, and expand multilateral cooperation between participating countries." The Gulf of Oman is strategically important for global trade. It leads to the narrow Strait of Hormuz, which is a key shipping route for oil.