Maritime Security Belt 2025 | 17 Mar 2025

Source: TOI 

China, Iran, and Russia held the Maritime Security Belt 2025 naval drills in the Gulf of Oman, near the Strait of Hormuz, amid tensions over Iran’s nuclear program. 

• About Gulf of Oman: It is a western extension of the Arabian Sea, connecting it to the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf. 
• Bordering Countries: It borders Iran (north), UAE (west), and Oman (south). 

• Important islands: Sheytan Island, Al Fahal Island, Dimaniyat Islands, and Sawadi Islands. 
• Significance: It is the only maritime route for Iran to access open seas, making it crucial for global trade and energy transportation. 
  • About a fifth of the volume of the world's total oil trade passes through the Strait of Hormuz on a daily basis that opens in the Gulf of Oman. 
• The Strait of Hormuz connects the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman, and is situated between Iran, the UAE, and Oman.