Iran participates in Indian naval drill amid Red Sea tensions

Iran is participating in a major Indian naval exercise this week as India seeks to boost security near the Red Sea.

The Indian naval exercise Milan 2024 began on Monday. The sea phase starts on Saturday, during which participating countries will conduct air defense, anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare drills. The exercise will conclude on Feb. 27, the Indian Navy said in a statement.

The Iranian navy sent its Dena destroyer ship to participate in the exercise. Adm. Jalil Moqaddam said that the Islamic Republic’s participation in Milan 2024 demonstrates “very good and growing relations” between the two countries’ naval forces, the semiofficial Tasnim News Agency reported.

The list of participating countries also includes the United States, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, Australia, Brazil, Japan and Iraq, according to a series of posts by the Indian Navy on X.