Why it matters:
The joint exercise showcases increasing security and operational cooperation between Iran and Russia in the Caspian Sea, a strategically significant body of water shared by both nations. It also reflects a growing emphasis on multilateral readiness for maritime emergencies in the region.
The big picture:
The exercise included fire suppression on a simulated commercial vessel, evacuation and treatment of injured personnel, and towing operations to a secure harbor.
Special operations units from Iran’s Navy boarded the vessel to rescue trapped crew members, with airlift support for medical evacuation.
These drills follow a pre-planned scenario and were executed jointly by both countries’ naval surface ships and aircraft.
What he’s saying:
“Following the emergency distress signal from the burning vessel, Iranian Navy helicopters surveyed the area and the Separ warship, serving as command ship, dispatched fire response teams to the scene,” said Rear Admiral Second Class Mohsen Razaghi, spokesperson for CASAREX 2025.
“Naval and aerial units of both nations followed the scenario precisely, conducting joint firefighting, casualty rescue, and damage control on a commercial vessel.”
“In a separate phase, Iranian and Russian naval units successfully conducted aerial photography drills (PhotoEx) and offensive formation maneuvers.”
“All stages of the exercise were monitored through aerial surveillance by Iranian Navy helicopters.”
Go deeper:
With both countries seeking to counterbalance NATO presence elsewhere, Iran and Russia’s growing maritime interoperability in the Caspian underscores their shared security interests. The drill sends a message to other littoral states about their joint capabilities in responding to regional maritime emergencies — not only in warfare, but in peacetime crises as well.
Mojtaba Darabi - seyed mohammad kazemi
