Tehran ‘preparing a major military exercise in the Gulf’
Iran appears to be preparing a major military exercise in the Arabian Gulf, after increased tensions with the US, which renewed sanctions on Tehran.
Iran has yet to announce the exercise through official channels and such exercises usually take place later in the year. But US officials said they had seen increased Iranian activity.
“We are aware of the increase in Iranian naval operations within the Arabian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz and Gulf of Oman,” Capt Bill Urban, chief spokesman at Central Command for US forces in the Middle East, told Reuters.
“We are monitoring it closely and will continue to work with our partners to ensure freedom of navigation and free flow of commerce in international waterways.”
US officials said Iran’s Revolutionary Guards appeared to have prepared more than 100 vessels for exercises. Hundreds of troops could also be involved the drills could begin within the next 48 hours.
US officials said the timing appeared to be designed to send a message to Washington, which is intensifying its economic and diplomatic pressure on Tehran.
US President Donald Trump’s policies are already putting pressure on the Iranian economy. Iran’s currency hit new lows this week as Iranians braced for Tuesday, when Washington is due to reimpose a first batch of sanctions.
But there are concerns in Washington that pressure could turn Iranians and the conservative sections of the regime to push for greater action against the US.
Such retaliation could include attacks against US forces in the Middle East or a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, through which 20 per cent of the world’s oil shipments pass.
On Tuesday, a top Iranian naval commander said the Strait of Hormuz would be affected by the US decision to withdraw from the nuclear deal agreed by Tehran and world powers. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards have threatened to block the strait.
Admiral Hossein Khanzadi said it depended on “moves made by the international community based on its undertakings in agreements with Iran”, Iranian news agency Fars reported.