Warships from Iran, China and Russia kicked off their annual joint exercises in the Gulf of Oman on Monday, in a show of strengthening military ties as US President Donald Trump upends longstanding Western alliances.

A major military drill involving the naval forces of Iran, Russia, and China is currently taking place in the northern Indian Ocean near the Gulf of Oman. These exercises, which began on Tuesday, are being held to strengthen military cooperation and enhance regional security.

China, Russia, and Iran will hold the Security Belt 2025 joint maritime exercises in the Gulf of Oman this month, the Chinese Defense Ministry announced on March 9. Both China and Iran have supported Russia during its full-scale invasion of Ukraine,

The United States has stopped allowing Iraq to buy electricity from Iran, making Iraq’s power problems even worse. This decision is part of the US government’s efforts to put pressure on Iran by cutting off its sources of money.

Iran’s foreign ministry said on Monday the decision by the United States to end a sanctions waiver that had allowed Iraq to buy electricity from Iran was “illegal”. […]

Iran’s foreign ministry on Monday condemned the United States for rescinding a waiver allowing neighboring Iraq to import gas from Iran.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has shut down Trump's offer for talks on a nuclear deal and said a "bullying government" was being persistent.