A Russian ship sails alongside an Iranian ship in False Bay near the Simon Town Naval Base on January 16, 2026 in Cape Town, South Africa, on the last day of the BRICS Plus countries, China, Russia and Iran, for a joint naval exercise in South African waters. | Photo credit: Reuters
Following the latest round of talks between Tehran and Washington in Geneva, Iran and Russia will hold naval exercises in the Sea of Oman on Thursday (February 19, 2027), Iranian media reported.
On Monday, the Revolutionary Guards, the ideological wing of Iran’s army, also began exercises in the strategic Strait of Hormuz, posing a challenge to US naval forces deployed in the region.
A joint naval exercise between the Islamic Republic of Iran and Russia will take place tomorrow (Thursday) in the Sea of Oman and the northern Indian Ocean. ISNA The agency reported, quoting the drill’s spokesman, Rear Admiral Hassan Magsoudloo.
“The aim is to strengthen maritime security and further strengthen ties between the navies of the two countries,” he said, without specifying the duration of the drill.
The war games came as Iran struck a cheerful tone following the second round of Oman-brokered talks in Geneva on Tuesday.
Previous talks between the two foes collapsed after an unprecedented Israeli strike on Iran in June 2025, leading to a 12-day war in which the United States briefly joined.
US President Donald Trump has deployed a sizeable navy in the region, which he has described as an “armada”.
Iranian officials have repeatedly threatened to block the Strait of Hormuz, particularly during periods of tension with the United States, but it has never been closed.
A key route for global transportation of oil and liquefied natural gas, the Strait of Hormuz has been the scene of many incidents in the past and is back in the spotlight as pressure mounts amid US-Iran talks.
Iran announced on Tuesday that it would partially close the strait for several hours for “security” reasons during its own exercises.
ap/ris/jsa
Published – February 18, 2026 09:17 pm IST
