The joint naval drill involves Iranian warships and a Chinese flotilla that berthed at Iran’s southern port city of Bandar Abbas on Thursday.
The Chinese flotilla comprises the guided-missile destroyer Chang Chun (DDG-150), guided-missile frigate Jin Zhou (FFG-532) and Type 903 replenishment ship Chao Hu (890).
During the exercise at the strategic Strait of Hormuz, the Iranian and Chinese naval forces display their capabilities and share experiences.
The Chinese flotilla had been staying at Pakistan’s Karachi for a training program before deployment to Iran.
Iran’s Navy and the People’s Liberation Army Navy (Chinese Navy) have intensified cooperation in recent years.
In September 2014, a Chinese flotilla of warships docked in Bandar Abbas and held a joint naval exercise with Iran.
Later in October that year, Iran’s Navy Commander Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari visited China’s eastern port city of Qingdao with a high-ranking team and held talks with Chinese military officials.
In December 2015, members of a high-ranking naval delegation from China visited Iran for talks.
