By Kevin Akor
DUBAI — Iran has shifted naval forces and announced a two-day live-fire military exercise in the Strait of Hormuz, a move that analysts say could be intended to deter a possible U.S. strike as tension mounts in the region.
U.S. Central Command said on Friday that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy will conduct the exercise starting Sunday, Feb. 1, and urged Tehran to execute the drills in a “safe and professional” manner. The warning underscored concerns that Iran’s actions could threaten freedom of navigation through one of the world’s most vital maritime chokepoints.
“Any unsafe and unprofessional behavior near U.S. forces, regional partners or commercial vessels increases risks of collision, escalation and destabilization,” CENTCOM said in a statement, adding that it “will not tolerate unsafe IRGC actions.”
Iranian Foreign Affairs Minister Abbas Araghchi reiterated Tehran’s official rationale on social media. In a Jan. 31 post on X, he said the safe passage of commercial ships is “vital for Iran and its neighbors” and accused what he termed “outside forces in the region” of historically fueling escalation.
State-linked Iranian media have also highlighted the naval build-up. An outlet affiliated with the Iranian Armed Forces General Staff, Defa Press, reported that the IRGC Navy has deployed “hundreds of fast, missile-launching and support vessels” near the U.S. Navy’s USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier.
Commercial satellite imagery from late January showed the IRGC Navy’s “Shahid Bagheri” drone carrier roughly six kilometers off the coast of Bandar Abbas in the Strait of Hormuz, underscoring Tehran’s active maritime posture.
Policy analysts close to the regime characterize the drills — which will also take place in parts of the Persian Gulf — as a show of force aimed at demonstrating Iran’s ability to counter a naval blockade and dissuade a potential U.S. strike.
The developments come as U.S. and allied forces have bolstered their presence in the region, with the Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group operating in adjacent waters as part of broader military readiness activities.
