00:18Just hours ago, Russian warships docked in Iran, right at the edge of one of the world's
00:24most critical oil choke points. In a move that is turning heads across Washington, Moscow,
00:31and Beijing, Russia's Baltic Fleet Corvette Stoyki has arrived at Iran's strategic port
00:37city of Bandar Abbas, accompanied by a helicopter carrier, as part of a major trilateral military
00:43drill. This is not a routine visit. It is the opening phase of Maritime Security Belt
00:502026, a joint naval exercise involving Iran, Russia, and China, set to begin February 19th
00:58in the Sea of Oman and the northern Indian Ocean. But the real focus is the Strait of Hormuz.
01:04This narrow waterway, just 21 miles wide at its tightest point, carries between 20 to 25 percent
01:11of the world's daily oil supply. That's roughly 21 million barrels of oil every single day.
01:17Any disruption here sends shockwaves through global energy markets. And Iran knows it.
01:24According to official statements, the Iranian Navy's first district in Bandar Abbas is hosting
01:30the initial phase of the drills. Operations will include anti-terror exercises, anti-piracy maneuvers,
01:37search and rescue missions, and critically, live fire exercises. Iran has even temporarily closed
01:43sections of the strait for safety during these drills. That detail matters, because it demonstrates
01:48capability, not just intent. Russia has deployed at least one advanced corvette and a helicopter
01:54carrier for air support. Iran is fielding its domestic fleet, including vessels from the Islamic
01:59Revolutionary Guard Corps. And China has sent warships to join the trilateral phase. Three powers,
02:06one chokepoint, rising tensions. And all of this is happening near active U.S. naval patrols.
02:11This is not the first maritime security belt drill. Similar exercises were held in 2023 and 2024.
02:19But 2026 is different. Why? Because these drills are taking place amidst escalating U.S.-Iran
02:25nuclear tensions, and during a period of heightened rhetoric from President Donald Trump, who has
02:29maintained a hardline stance on Iran, including previous maximum pressure sanctions and strong
02:34support for Israel. This timing is not accidental. Geopolitically, this exercise sends a clear signal.
02:40To Washington, to Tel Aviv, and to global energy markets. Iran has repeatedly threatened to block
02:46the strait if attacked. A full closure could send oil prices skyrocketing, some estimates suggesting up
02:51to $200 per barrel. That would mean higher gas prices, inflation spikes, and economic shockwaves
02:56across the U.S., Europe, and Asia. With Russia and China now involved, the deterrence factor multiplies.
03:02Russia, already under Western sanctions over Ukraine, deepens its strategic ties with Tehran.
03:06China, a major buyer of Iranian oil, protects its energy interests while challenging U.S. naval dominance.
03:12Together, they create the image of a united front. The message? Any direct strike on Iran, whether
03:17targeting nuclear facilities or responding to proxy conflicts, could escalate far beyond a bilateral clash.
03:22It could draw in major powers. It could disrupt global trade. It could turn the strait of Hormuz
03:26into the world's most dangerous flashpoint overnight. And by conducting live fire drills in one of the most
03:31strategic waterways on Earth, Iran, Russia, and China aren't just training. They're signaling,
03:35strategically, deliberately, and at a moment of maximum geopolitical friction.
03:39The question now is not whether the world is watching. It is how Washington responds.
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