Rising US-Iran tensions as IRGC schedules strategic military exercises on Feb 1–2
Tehran, Iran | Web Desk: Amid escalating US-Iran tensions, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has announced large-scale naval exercises in the Strait of Hormuz, scheduled for February 1 and 2, Iranian state media reported.
The announcement comes at a time of growing fears over a potential US military strike on Iran, with Washington increasing its naval presence in the region. The Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical oil shipping routes, connects major Gulf oil producers — including Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, and the UAE — to the Arabian Sea and Gulf of Oman.
According to Iranian officials, the drills will be conducted by the IRGC Navy in waters that lie between US-allied Arab states on one side and Iran on the other, underscoring the region’s strategic sensitivity.
The development follows remarks by US President Donald Trump, who warned that a “massive naval fleet,” led by the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, is moving toward Iran — allegedly larger than the fleet deployed near Venezuela.
In response, Iranian authorities reiterated that any US attack would be met with a swift and comprehensive response, while maintaining that Iran remains open to negotiations only if talks are fair, balanced, and free from pressure.
