Iran, Saudi Arabia 'plan' military drills

Iran and Saudi Arabia are planning to conduct joint military exercises in the Red Sea, according to an Iranian report not confirmed by Riyadh, in what would be a first for the regional heavyweights.

"Saudi Arabia has asked that we organise joint exercises in the Red Sea," the commander of Iran's navy, Admiral Shahram Irani, was quoted as saying by the Iranian news agency ISNA.

"Coordination is underway and delegations from both countries will hold the necessary consultations on how to conduct the exercise," he added, without providing details including a timeline.

Saudi Arabia did not immediately confirm whether it would hold joint military exercises with Iran.

Saudi Arabia, which has backed the Aden government, has engaged in a delicate balancing act as the world's biggest oil exporter tries to extricate itself from the war on its doorstep. It did not join a US-led naval coalition to deter Huthi attacks. Efforts by the kingdom to broker a Yemen peace deal also faltered in the wake of the Huthi attacks on ships