Iran and Russia are slated to hold a joint naval drill in the Sea of Oman and the Northern Indian Ocean on February 19, 2026, to enhance maritime security.

The naval forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Russian Federation will conduct a joint naval exercise on Thursday in the Sea of Oman and the northern Indian Ocean to enhance maritime security and expand bilateral military cooperation.

The joint drill will be hosted by the First Naval Region of Iran`s Navy in the southern port city of Bandar Abbas.

A helicopter carrier belonging to the Navy of the Russian Federation has entered Iran`s southern waters as part of joint maritime cooperation and docked at the First Naval Region base of the Iranian Navy.

Rear Admiral Hassan Maqsoudlou, spokesperson for the exercise, said the primary objective of the drill is to promote maritime security and sustainable naval interactions in the Sea of Oman and the northern Indian Ocean.

He added that expanding joint maritime cooperation and strengthening coordination in the planning and execution of combined operations are among the key goals of the exercise.

Maqsoudlou noted that enhancing convergence and coordination in countering activities that threaten maritime safety-particularly the protection of commercial vessels and oil tankers, as well as combating maritime terrorism-will form a central focus of the drill.

He emphasized that the exercise is also designed to deepen friendly ties, increase regional cooperation with priority given to neighboring countries, and reinforce the role of regional states in ensuring maritime security and safe navigation.

The spokesperson said the drill, alongside other exercises conducted by Iran`s armed forces, reflects both countries` attention to developments in the Sea of Oman and the northern Indian Ocean, underscoring their commitment to strengthening maritime cooperation, opposing unilateralism, and supporting secure maritime trade.

Captain First Rank Alexey Sergeev, commander of the Russian naval flotilla, expressed satisfaction with his presence in Bandar Abbas and thanked Iran for its hospitality.

Highlighting the close relations between the two sides, Sergeev said the current level of cooperation shows their ability to jointly manage and resolve maritime and coastal challenges.

He added that Russia is prepared to hold joint exercises in various regions, including specialized drills such as maritime counterterrorism operations carried out by vessels and boats from both navies.

The upcoming drill comes amid a sharp rise in threatening rhetoric from Washington and a massive US military buildup near and off the coast of Iran.

US President Donald Trump said the deployment was aimed at pressuring Tehran into negotiations, threatening that failure to reach a deal would trigger a military strike "far worse" than the US attack on Iranian nuclear facilities in June 2025.

Iran has repeatedly rejected threats and coercion, insisting that diplomacy cannot succeed under pressure or intimidation. It has said it is ready for talks if they are fair and based on mutual respect, while warning that any military attack by the US or its allies against Iranian interests would be met with a swift and decisive response.