Iran announces military exercises with Russia and China amid nuclear talks with the US

Iran holds military exercise in Strait of Hormuz amid nuclear talks with US Iran has announced it will hold joint military exercises with Russia and China by the end of the month, according to Iranian news agencies, amid escalating tensions with the United States and negotiations to limit its nuclear program. ✅ Follow the g1 international news channel on WhatsApp The semi-official Iranian news agency Fars reported this Wednesday (18) that the Iranian Army will carry out naval exercises together with Russian forces in the Sea of ​​Oman and the north of the Indian Ocean on Thursday. The Russian government did not officially comment on the matter until the last update of this report. “Creating convergence and coordination on joint measures to counter activities that threaten maritime safety and security (…) as well as combating maritime terrorism are among the main objectives of this joint exercise,” said an Iranian Navy commander, Hassan Maghsoodloo, according to Fars. The announcement of the joint military exercises will come during an escalation of tensions between Iran and the United States and negotiations between the two countries to limit Iran’s nuclear program. The negotiations were motivated by the North American president, Donald Trump, threatening to attack the Middle Eastern country if the negotiations fail. (Read more below) Military exercises are expected to further increase military tension between the US and Iran and its allies. This is because Trump has positioned a large military presence of warships and fighter jets close to Iranian territory, within reach of Tehran in a possible attack. Maneuvers at the beginning of the month led to specific reactions from the US Army present in the Persian Gulf. The joint Iran-Russia maneuvers will also take place just days after the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the strongest military arm of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s regime, conducted military exercises in the Strait of Hormuz. The strait had to be partially closed on Tuesday due to the maneuvers. (See the video at the beginning of the report) Iran releases images of military exercises by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in the Strait of Hormuz on February 17, 2026. Wana via Reuters According to Iranian state agencies, by the end of February, China will join Iran and Russia for new military exercises in the Middle East. The maneuvers will be part of a program called the “Maritime Security Belt”, which aims to increase security integration between the three countries and has taken place annually since 2019. Kremlin advisor Nikolai Patrushev said on Tuesday that Russia and China sent warships close to Iran to participate in the military exercises. The Chinese government did not publicly comment on the military exercises until the last update of this report. READ ALSO: Khamenei says Trump will not be able to overthrow him and threatens to sink US aircraft carriers Iran’s Chancellor says negotiations with the US have advanced and paved the way for a nuclear deal Iran partially closes the Strait of Hormuz amid nuclear negotiations with the US Nuclear negotiation and military tension Ali Khamenei and Donald Trump Office of Iran’s Supreme Leader via AP; AP Photo/Evan Vucci The first meeting for nuclear negotiations between the US and Iran, at the beginning of the month in Oman, had a “very positive atmosphere” and the countries resumed negotiations after internal consultations. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said on Tuesday that progress had been made in the second round of negotiations with the US, and that the path to a nuclear deal was open. Washington, however, was more measured and said that it still has a long way to go. The negotiations are treated with caution because the US and Iran still have major differences between them: while Washington demands that Tehran end its nuclear and missile programs and stop supporting armed groups in the region, the Khamenei regime claims that it will only negotiate its nuclear program. Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said on Tuesday that Trump will not be able to overthrow his regime and threatened to shoot down the US aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, which is parked in the waters of the Arabian Sea within range of a possible attack on Iran. Iran’s top nuclear authority said the country is willing to dilute its stock of enriched uranium in exchange for the end of sanctions imposed on the country. According to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Iran has around 440 kg of uranium enriched to 60%, close to the level of a nuclear bomb. See the videos that are trending on g1 Iranian President Masud Pezeshkian said last week that the country is willing to “inspect” the IAEA to show that its nuclear program is peaceful, but said it will not give in to “excessive demands” from the US. US President Donald Trump alternates between indicating hope for a nuclear deal and direct threats to the Khamenei regime. Last week, Trump threatened to take “very harsh measures” against Iran if negotiations fail and sent the world’s largest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald Ford, to reinforce the military siege of the Middle Eastern country — which already has the USS Abraham Lincoln strike group positioned in the region. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said this week that making a deal with Iran “will be difficult” and called the Iranian ayatollahs, who govern the country, radicals. Iran insists its nuclear program is purely for peaceful purposes, and has said it is willing to undergo “inspections” to prove this. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi met with the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, this Monday. Both said they had an “in-depth” discussion about nuclear issues.

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