Warships from Iran, China and Russia kicked off their annual joint exercises in the Gulf of Oman on Monday, in a show of strengthening military ties as US President Donald Trump upends longstanding Western alliances.

A major military drill involving the naval forces of Iran, Russia, and China is currently taking place in the northern Indian Ocean near the Gulf of Oman. These exercises, which began on Tuesday, are being held to strengthen military cooperation and enhance regional security.

The United States has declined to renew a waiver that had allowed Iraq to buy electricity from Iran without running afoul of sanctions, the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad said Sunday

The decision to let Iraq's waiver lapse upon its expiration "ensures we do not allow Iran any degree of economic or financial relief," the spokesperson said, adding that Trump's campaign on Iran aims "to end its nuclear threat,

The United States has stopped allowing Iraq to buy electricity from Iran, making Iraq’s power problems even worse. This decision is part of the US government’s efforts to put pressure on Iran by cutting off its sources of money.