MOSCOW. March 11 (Interfax) - A unit of the Russian Pacific Fleet led by the Varyag missile cruiser arrived at the roadstead of the Iranian port of Chabahar on Monday, the Russian Defense Ministry said.
"The Russian ships will take part in the Marine Security Belt 2024 joint exercise, which also involves ships, boats and marine aircraft of the Iranian and Chinese navies," the ministry said.
"The practical stage of the exercise will be held in the Gulf of Oman in the Arabian Sea. The primary objective is to practice ensuring the security of maritime economic operations," it said.
"Besides the Varyag missile cruiser, the exercise will involve the Marshal Shaposhnikov destroyer, upgraded to a frigate, two warships and a supply vessel of the Chinese Navy, and over ten ships, boats and supply vessels and three helicopters of the Iranian Navy," the ministry said.
"Naval representatives of Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Oman, India and South Africa will serve as observers," it said.
The exercise aims "to provide regional security for the common good," Iranian media quoted Iranian Navy Commander Shahram Irani as saying in February.
Russia, Iraq and China have held similar exercises before. In particular, the exercises included live artillery fire.