Iran Launches Major Naval Drills in Strait of Hormuz Amid Tensions with US
According to the International Desk of Webangah News Agency, the 240th issue of the online publication ‘Voice of Iran‘ has been released by the media arm of the Office for Preservation and Publication of Imam Khamenei’s Works.
This edition is dedicated to the memory of martyr Mohammad Hemmati, a security defender who was tragically killed by armed rioters during recent unrest in the United States on his child’s birthday, never seeing his one-day-old infant.
The editorial of the publication stated: “Today, the combined, intensive, and targeted drill ‘Intelligent Control of the Strait of Hormuz,’ centered on the IRGC Navy and under the direct supervision, control, and field monitoring of the IRGC Commander, Major General Pakpour, commenced in the strategic region of the Strait of Hormuz.
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Key objectives of this exercise include assessing the operational readiness of the IRGC Navy units, reviewing security plans and potential reciprocal military action scenarios in response to possible security and military threats in the Strait of Hormuz region, and leveraging Iran’s geopolitical advantages in the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman. While the Persian Gulf and Sea of Oman witness annual drills by the armed forces of the Islamic Republic, the recent exercise holds amplified significance from several perspectives. This drill is being conducted at a time when the United States has deployed various military assets, particularly naval, to the region and is employing continuous and repeated rhetoric and threats in an attempt to intimidate and break the resolve of the Islamic Republic of Iran to defend its national interests. Geopolitical capabilities of the Persian Gulf, such as Iran’s possession of numerous strategic islands – including the Greater and Lesser Tunb islands and Abu Musa – and the Strait of Hormuz, are among the assets that provide Iran with various defensive and offensive opportunities. It is crucial to note that should the White House miscalculate and move towards a military option, as has been previously warned at the highest levels by the Commander-in-Chief, such folly would trigger a full-scale regional war. In such a scenario, the southern front would hold paramount importance. American military bases in the southern Persian Gulf states and moving maritime targets would be among the primary and serious options in this conflict, underscoring the pivotal role of the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman. In the 12-day war, the Islamic Republic of Iran solely utilized its aerospace capabilities, but in a potential future conflict, the navy and the blue front would likely be integrated into the conflict equation in a regional war, creating a new dimension. Another point is that one of the scenarios discussed regarding a new American military buildup in the region involves obstructing Iran’s maritime trade. The Islamic Republic has previously demonstrated that it is neither passive nor idle in the face of such provocations. One of the messages conveyed by this exercise is Iran’s resolve and seriousness in protecting its interests in this domain. This resolve can manifest in both deterrence and protection, as well as in reciprocal action against potential provocations. Finally, it must be noted that this exercise began on the day that our country’s diplomats are scheduled to hold the second round of negotiations with the American side in Geneva tomorrow. The drill, in this context, carries the explicit message that while the Islamic Republic of Iran has not closed the door to diplomacy, it remains vigilant and has its finger on the trigger to ensure its security and interests.
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