The United States has issued a warning to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) ahead of planned live-fire naval exercises in the Strait of Hormuz.
In a statement released on Friday, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) urged the IRGC to conduct its exercise in a professional manner and not cause disruption to the international sea passage.
The drills, announced by the IRGC, are scheduled to begin on Sunday and will involve the use of live ammunition.
Concerns Over Maritime Safety and Security in Hormuz
According to US officials, any unsafe or unprofessional conduct during the exercise could increase the risk of accidents and military escalation in an already tense region.
Also Read: Iran Revives Threat to Shut Down Strait of Hormuz as U.S Pressures Mount
“CENTCOM urges the IRGC to conduct the announced naval exercise in a manner that is safe, professional and avoids unnecessary risk to freedom of navigation for international maritime traffic. The Strait of Hormuz is an international sea passage and an essential trade corridor that supports regional economic prosperity. On any given day, roughly 100 of the world’s merchant vessels transit the narrow strait,” read the statement.
The US also warned the IRGC that it will not tolerate unsafe manoeuvres such as flights over US warships, including the approach of Iranian speedboats on a collision course with US ships.
“CENTCOM will ensure the safety of U.S. personnel, ships, and aircraft operating in the Middle East. We will not tolerate unsafe IRGC actions including overflight of U.S. military vessels engaged in flight operations, low-altitude or armed overflight of U.S. military assets when intentions are unclear, highspeed boat approaches on a collision course with U.S. military vessels, or weapons trained at U.S. forces,” added CENTCOM.
CENTCOM cited past incidents in which Iranian speedboats approached US vessels at close range and military aircraft flew low over warships, actions that it described as reckless and destabilizing.
The US military emphasized that its personnel operate in line with international maritime law and established safety standards. It called on Iran’s IRGC to show similar restraint during the planned exercise.
Rising Tensions in Iran
The warning comes amid broader tensions between Washington and Tehran over Iran’s nuclear programs, and Trump supporting the protesters in Iran.
US President Donald Trump is also weighing a major strike on Iran after preliminary discussions between Washington and Tehran over limiting the country’s nuclear program and ballistic missile production failed to make progress.
Earlier on, President Trump said that a US ship was heading towards the Gulf region with Iran as its focus.
The US deployed the aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln and other military assets, including surveillance flights and dozens of C-17 and C-5 aircraft, to the Middle East.
Also Read: Trump Threatens Iran with Venezuela-Style Show of Force Amid US Military Buildup
Strategic Importance of the Strait of Hormuz
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the most critical maritime chokepoints in the world, linking the Persian Gulf to the Arabian Sea and the wider Indian Ocean.
About one-fifth of the world’s oil supply and a significant share of liquefied natural gas exports pass through the strait each day.
Any disruption to shipping in the region could have serious consequences for global energy markets, trade, and economic stability.
Washington has repeatedly accused Tehran of using military exercises and patrols in the area to project power and pressure Western nations. In past years, tensions in the strait have led to tanker seizures, drone incidents, and close encounters between rival naval forces.
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