Factcheck: India is NOT joining Iranian naval drill

Iranian Navy deputy commander Rear Admiral Gholamreza Tahani claim that the Indian Navy will also join the country in a joint naval drill along with Russia had triggered a frenzy of sorts with a number of Indian and international media outlets reporting the story.

However, the Indian Navy has rejected the fake news.

Naval sources denied India's participation in the drills which are scheduled to take place in the northern part of the Indian Ocean. 

"We had received a request from the Iranian government to carry out the joint naval exercises. But we have not confirmed our participation," the source in the Indian Navy said. 

Prodded further, the source said "it is unlikely" India will participate. 

The drill being held is designed to "enhance the security" of maritime trade in the region.

Named as Maritime Security Belt, the exercise would cover an area of about 17,000 square kilometres and include units from the Iranian Navy, the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps Navy and the Russian Navy.
 
Iranian media had quoted Rear Admiral Tahani as saying that the Indian Navy will also join the exercise to send across a message of "peace and friendship for neighbouring and regional countries".

In the wake of its ongoing tensions with the United States and the European Union, Iran has stepped up its military engagement with Russia and China. In 2019 and 2020, Tehran conducted joint exercises with both countries.

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