The Maritime Exercise “IMEX 2024” was held on Saturday and Sunday, with the participation of Iran, Russia, Oman, Saudi Arabia, India, Thailand, Pakistan, Qatar, and Bangladesh.

Commander of the Iranian Army’s Naval Forces Rear Admiral Shahram Irani (photo) has said that the presence and participation of different countries in Maritime Exercise IMEX 2024 hosted by Iran show that the Islamic Republic cannot be isolated.

Irani made the comment on Sunday as the maritime exercise was wrapped in the Indian Ocean, Fars News Agency (FNA) reported.

He said that the big military drills showed that the Islamic Republic of Iran, along with all regional countries, are making efforts to protect global security and tranquility, and that they are able to protect the security of maritime trade.

The Commander explained that the Maritime Exercise “IMEX 2024” was different from the previous drills which focused on military aspect.

The purpose of holding this exercise is to consolidate sustainable collective security and its foundations in the region, to expand multilateral cooperation among participating countries, and also to show the good will and ability of these countries in line with the joint support for peace and friendship and maritime security, Irani added.

Strengthening the security of international maritime trade, protecting the maritime lines in the international waterways based on peace and friendship, humanitarian measures, exchanging information in the field of maritime rescue and also experiences are of the other objectives of the naval exercise.

Meanwhile, the ground and naval forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran as well as the Army and Navy of Oman have held two separate joint military exercises.

According to IRNA’s Thursday report from the Iranian Army’s public relations, Commander of Iran’s Army Ground Force Brigadier General Kioumars Heidari stated that at the request and invitation of the Omani Army for holding an anti-terrorism exercise, the first joint and combined exercise of the Ground Forces of Iran and Oman was carried out with a focus on countering regional terrorism, establishing sustainable security, urban warfare, and exchanging and transferring experiences between the two states.

He added that the two-day ground exercise, held in Oman, involved rapid reaction units and the 65th Airborne Special Forces Brigade of Iran, supported by the Omani Air Force and police.

In the Indian Ocean and the Strait of Hormuz, a joint maritime rescue exercise was held with the participation of combat vessels from the Islamic Republic of Iran’s Navy and the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), as well as surface and aerial combat units of Royal Navy of Oman.

Iran-made Jamaran destroyer and Zereh (Armor) missile-launching ship were used during the exercises.