The Chinese, Iranian, and Russian navies kicked off a joint exercise near the Iranian port of Chabahar ... they raise new expectations that Iran will certainly not accept,” Khamenei said.

west of the port of Amirabad on Iran’s Caspian Sea coast, in September. Reuters couldn’t establish if the visitors referred to by the officials included the Russians on the two flights.

China, Iran and Russia have conducted joint naval drills in the Middle East. The joint drills held Tuesday, called the ...