VISAKHAPATNAM, India (Dispatches) -- Iran’s Navy commander called for expanded naval cooperation during a series of meetings on the sidelines of the MILAN 2026 international naval exercise in India.

Rear Admiral Shahram Irani held separate talks with Admiral Htein Win, commander of Myanmar’s navy; Admiral Aleksandr Moiseyev, commander-in-chief of Russia’s navy; and Lieutenant General Muhammad bin Abdulrahman bin Hamed al-Gharibi, chief of staff of the Royal Saudi Naval Forces.

The meetings took place during the 13th edition of MILAN, the Indian Navy’s biennial multilateral maritime drill, held in Visakhapatnam in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh.

The discussions focused on expanding bilateral and multilateral cooperation in the maritime domain, including professional exchanges,

 joint exercises and greater use of technical and operational capacities.
Senior naval officials underscored the strategic importance of oceans in economic development and sustainable security, and stressed the need to strengthen interactions among navies. They highlighted cooperation in areas such as counter-piracy operations, protection of sea lines of communication, maritime search and rescue missions, and crisis management at sea.
Irani said multinational drills could serve as an effective platform to build trust, enhance operational coordination and share experiences among participating countries.
MILAN 2026 is being held alongside the International Fleet Review and the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) Conclave. Organizers say more than 70 countries are participating in this year’s events, with over 60 warships involved.
India hosts the MILAN exercise every two years, bringing together regional and extra-regional navies for harbor and sea phases that include professional exchanges and joint maneuvers.
Iran’s participation comes amid broader efforts by Tehran to expand defense and maritime ties with countries in Asia and beyond.