China, Iran and Russia are conducting joint naval exercises in the Gulf of Oman from March 15-19, the Chinese and Russian defence ministries said on Wednesday. The drills, the 2023 edition of the "Marine Security Belt" exercises, will help "deepen practical cooperation among the navies of participating countries", China's defence ministry said. Russia's defence ministry said the active phase of the exercises would be on March 16-17, involving various joint manoeuvres including daytime and night-time artillery firing. The Tasnim news agency, affiliated with the IRGC, also reported that military forces from Iran, Russia and China will stage a joint naval war game in the northern parts of the Indian Ocean. It also said that the drill will involve forces from the marine and airborne units of the Iranian Navy, and the Revolution Guards Corps Navy.