NNA - China's Defense Ministry announced on Sunday that the country will soon conduct a joint naval exercise with Iran and Russia near Iran. The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy will participate by deploying a destroyer and a replenishment ship.

According to the ministry's statement, the drill will include training exercises such as maritime target strikes, visit-board-search-and-seizure (VBSS) operations, damage control, and joint search and rescue missions.

Iran's Tasnim news agency reported on Sunday that the annual joint naval drills involving the three nations are set to begin on Monday in the southeastern Iranian port of Chabahar. --- Al Mayadeen

===========