U.S. Expresses Concern Over IRGC Drills in Strait of Hormuz!
Tehran - BORNA - Following reports of upcoming maneuvers by the IRGC forces in the Strait of Hormuz in the coming days, CENTCOM—which maintains a heavy, provocative, and tension-creating presence in regional waters under the orders of U.S. President Donald Trump—has issued a warning.
The CENTCOM statement read: "Iran announced that the IRGC is conducting a two-day naval exercise with live ammunition in the Strait of Hormuz, scheduled to begin on Sunday. The United States Central Command calls on the IRGC to conduct the announced naval exercise in a safe, professional manner, avoiding unnecessary risks to the freedom of navigation for international maritime traffic."
The statement further noted that the Strait of Hormuz is an international maritime passage and an essential trade corridor supporting regional economic prosperity, with approximately 100 of the world’s commercial vessels passing through the strait daily.
Earlier, Jon Gambrell, the Iran news director for the Associated Press, claimed that Iran had notified ships that it would be conducting drills with live ammunition in the Strait of Hormuz in the coming days. In a message on the social media platform "X," Gambrell alleged that Iran issued a notice on Thursday via Very High Frequency (VHF) radio to mariners, announcing that the live-fire naval exercise would take place on Sunday and Monday in the Strait of Hormuz.
While Iran has consistently emphasized its right to freedom of navigation and the protection of its sovereign rights in international waters, CENTCOM stated in its announcement: "U.S. forces recognize Iran's right to operate professionally in international airspace and waters. Any unsafe and unprofessional behavior near U.S. forces, regional partners, or commercial vessels increases the risk of collision, escalation, and instability. CENTCOM will ensure the safety of U.S. personnel, vessels, and aircraft operating in the Middle East. We will not tolerate unsafe actions by the IRGC, including buzzing U.S. military vessels conducting flight operations, low-altitude or armed overflights of U.S. military equipment when intentions are unclear, high-speed boats approaching on a collision course with U.S. military vessels, or weapons trained on U.S. forces."
The United States military, which considers itself the "most highly trained" and "deadliest" force in the world, claims it will continue to operate with the highest levels of "professionalism" and "adherence to international norms," calling on the IRGC to do the same.
End Article