Iranian and Russian military vessels have conducted the first stage of their naval maneuvers in the Sea of Oman and the northern part of the Indian Ocean by unleashing fire on designated targets and squaring up in offensive formations in light of regional threats.

Tuesday marked the first day of the two-day drills, codenamed Maritime Security Belt, that bears a message of �peace and friendship� for the regional nations and sports the slogan �collective cooperation at sea towards securing naval trade.�

The event covers a 17,000-kilometer (10,563-mile)-wide maritime expanse. It enlists naval units from Iran�s Navy and the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Navy together with their backup squadrons as well as a Russian flotilla comprising the Stoiky corvette, the KoLa refueling ship, and a support helicopter gunship.