Iran tested anti-ship missiles in Strait of Hormuz war games
US officials believe exercise is warning as renewal of sanctions against Tehran begin to take effect
Iran launched a short-range anti-ship missile in the Strait of Hormuz during naval drills last week, which the US believes was a message as it reimposes sanctions on Tehran.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard confirmed that it had held war games in the Gulf over the past several days, saying they were aimed at “confronting possible threats” by enemies.
But a US official said on Friday that such a missile test was not unusual during naval exercises and that it was carried out safely. He said it occurred in what could be described as Iranian territorial waters.
US Army Gen Joseph Votel, head of Central Command, said last week that the scope and scale of the exercises were similar to those Iran had conducted in the past. But he said the timing was meant to attract Washington’s attention.
“It’s pretty clear to us that they were trying to use that exercise to send a message that as we approach this period of the sanctions, that they had some capabilities,” Gen Votel said.
Tehran has been angered by US President Donald Trump’s decision to pull out of the 2015 international agreement on Iran’s nuclear programme and reimpose sanctions.
Senior Iranian officials have warned they would not yield to a renewed US campaign to cut off its oil exports.
Last month, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said he supported President Hassan Rouhani’s suggestion that Iran may block Gulf oil exports if its shipments are stopped.
Gen Votel said the US military was keenly aware of Iran’s military activities. “We are aware of what’s going on, and we remain ready to protect ourselves as we pursue our objectives of freedom of navigation and the freedom of commerce in international waters,” he said.