As European naval forces are planning to escort tankers in the Persian Gulf, amid soaring tensions over the seizure of ships by Iran, a MoU on maritime cooperation was signed between Tehran and Moscow.
The agreement made on Monday during a three-day visit of Commander of the Iranian Army’s Navy Rear Admiral Hossein Khanzadi to Russia.
“During the meeting on Monday, the two navy commanders signed an agreement on maritime defence cooperation. The MoU is said to be the first of its kind signed between the two countries,” wrote Iran’s Mehr News Agency.
The two sides have reportedly emphasized on expanding security cooperation in Arabian Sea, Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz.
Europe is planning to send navy forces to the Strait of Hormuz in order to protect ships and oil tankers from Iranian Revolutionary Guards, who have seized a UK ship earlier this month.
Iran has disapproved the European plan and said the security of these waters must be provided by the countries in the region.
