Expert says 'Russia is like salvation for Iran'
(Baonghean.vn) - Iranian officials announced that Iran and Russia will hold joint naval exercises in the Strait of Hormuz. In an interview with Sputnik, expert from the Russian Association of Military-Political Scientists Oleg Glazunov gave his assessment of the situation.
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| Iran's navy in the Strait of Hormuz. Photo: Getty |
Recently, Iranian Navy Commander - Rear Admiral Hossein Khanzadi said that Iran and Russia may soon hold joint naval exercises in the Indian Ocean, including in the Strait of Hormuz, the area connecting the Persian Gulf and Oman. The exact time of the exercise has not been announced.
Commenting on the move, Oleg Glazunov, an expert from the Russian Association of Military-Political Scientists, said: "The exercise is related to the situation in the Strait of Hormuz. You see: Tensions are rising, Iranian oil tankers are not allowed to move, they are stopped, checked, delayed because of sanctions. Iran is not sitting still, they are also stopping oil tankers from passing through.
The situation is very serious, one might say like the eve of war. Therefore, Iran needs to enlist the support of good allies, and in this regard, Russia is like a salvation for Iran. If we hold joint exercises, we will show the world that Russia and Iran can cooperate to carry out combat missions in the Strait. For Iran, this is psychological support. The Iranians invest a lot in relations with Russia, and understand that they are not alone.
