Daijiworld Media Network - Dubai
Dubai, Feb 20: Iran carried out its annual joint naval exercises with Russia on Thursday, even as a second American aircraft carrier advanced toward West Asia, underscoring rising tensions over Tehran’s nuclear programme. Both Washington and Tehran have signalled readiness for military confrontation if ongoing diplomatic efforts collapse.
Recent rounds of indirect negotiations have shown little tangible progress, fuelling speculation that the two sides may be using the talks to gain strategic leverage while preparing for possible escalation.
According to Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency, Iranian naval forces and Russian personnel conducted coordinated drills across the Gulf of Oman and the Indian Ocean. The exercises were described as efforts to strengthen operational synergy and facilitate the exchange of military expertise. During the manoeuvres, Tehran also issued a rocket-fire alert to aircraft operating in the vicinity, indicating potential anti-ship missile launches as part of the exercise scenario.
Meanwhile, Mohammad Eslami, head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, reiterated that Iran’s right to enrich uranium is non-negotiable. He asserted that no nation has the authority to deny Iran its entitlement to nuclear enrichment, reinforcing Tehran’s firm stance amid mounting international pressure.