The Iranian and Russian Navies have completed their first joint maritime exercise to protect the environment of the Caspian Sea and clean up oil pollution in the landlocked waters.

The exercise, called ‘Regional Interaction, Key to Safe and Clean Caspian Sea’, was held in the northern Iranian port city of Bandar-e-Anzali, Gilan province.

The international accords in the exercise included oil pollution preparedness, response and cooperation, international convention on maritime search and rescue, international ship and port facility security (ISPS code).

More than 30 vessels and two helicopters from Iran and one Russian anti-pollution vessel have participated in the exercise to clean up the oil spills and pollutants from surface of the sea.