TEHRAN, Iran -- China, Iran and Russia conducted joint naval drills Tuesday in the Middle East, offering a show of force in a region still uneasy over Tehran's rapidly expanding nuclear program and as Yemen's Houthi rebels threaten new attacks on ships.

China, Russia and representatives from the Iranian government are set to meet in the Chinese capital for discussions on Friday in light of growing tensions surrounding Iran's nuclear programme. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning stated on Wednesday that the talks in Beijing would address the "Iranian nuclear issue and topics of mutual interest.