DUBAI, March 14. /TASS/. The naval exercise Maritime Security Belt - 2024 by Russia, Iran and China testifies to the emergence of a new alliance to ensure security in the northern Indian Ocean, Iran’s representative at the exercise, Second Rear Admiral Mustafa Taj al-Dini.

"These important exercises have been held for five consecutive years. The world has seen Iran, China and Russia form a new international alliance to ensure security in the northern Indian Ocean," he told Iran's IRIB TV channel. According to al-Dini, the navies of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Oman, Pakistan and South Africa were present as observers in order to become full-fledged participants in the future.

On the morning of March 14, the Russian Defense Ministry reported that the practical phase of the Maritime Security Belt - 2024 exercise ended in the Gulf of Oman. Over the two days of drills Russian sailors worked with their counterparts from the Iranian and Chinese navies to practice joint maneuvering and communication exercises, and the firing of large-caliber machine guns and small-caliber shipboard artillery at surface and air targets in both day and night time, as well as conducted an operation to free a ship seized by pirates.

The Maritime Security Belt 2024 international naval exercises have been held for a sixth time since 2018. Ships from the navies of Iran, China and Russian have been invariable participants. The Russian Defense Ministry said that this year representatives from the navies of Azerbaijan, India, Kazakhstan, Oman, Pakistan and South Africa participated as observers for the first time.