Commander of the Iranian army’s navy who is visiting Russia has announced an agreement for joint naval exercises between Iranian and Russian forces in the Indian Ocean, Arabian Sea, the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf.

Hossein Khanzadi expressed hope that the joint exercises will take place in the next few months, according to Iran’s official news outlet, IRNA.

During Khanzadi’s visit to Russia, an agreement was also signed for expanding military cooperation between the two countries.

Iran is engaged in a tense confrontation with the United States and the United Kingdom in the Persian Gulf region and on matters related to its nuclear program.

Washington has heavily sanctioned Iran, including its oil exports, which have pushed Iran into dire economic conditions. Tehran has decided to show defiance, shooting down a U.S. drone and seizing a British oil tanker.

Khanzadi also told IRNA the agreements reached with Russia are unprecedented and they also include points about cooperation in the Caspian Sea.

In the face of Iran’s actions, Britain has called for European navies to join forces to protest commercial shipping in the Persian Gulf region. Other European countries have voiced cautious support for the proposal.

Iran has called the plan a provocative move to gain control of the shipping lanes.