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Russia and Iran have wrapped up joint naval drills in the Sea of Oman as the United States continues to surge military assets to the region amid tensions with Iran.

Getting into it: According to Iranian media, the drills involved maritime maneuvers across the Sea of Oman, the Strait of Hormuz, and parts of the northern Indian Ocean, with forces rehearsing tactical formations, aerial surveillance, coordinated communications, and simulated rescue operations of a hijacked vessel. Iranian special operations teams reportedly conducted rappelling exercises onto a Russian warship as part of a ship-seizure scenario carried out from both air and sea, while units practiced offensive formations and rapid-response deployments designed to enhance joint command and control under operational conditions.

Russia’s participation centered on a corvette, the Stoikiy, which conducted maneuvering drills and coordinated operations with Iranian vessels before being escorted out of the exercise zone during a closing ceremony. Iranian officials framed the drills as part of ongoing “defense diplomacy,” aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation and improving maritime security coordination.

The exercises unfolded as the US continues to significantly ramp up its military presence in the region. Over the last month, the United States has deployed two aircraft carriers, the USS Abraham Lincoln and the Gerald R. Ford, along with warships and dozens of advanced fighter jets.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov warned that any new US strike on Iran would carry serious consequences, stating that previous attacks on nuclear facilities posed real risks of a nuclear incident and that “the consequences are not good” for the world. He added that rising tensions amount to “playing with fire.”