Iran's Revolutionary Guards Conduct Military Drills in Strait of Hormuz

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commenced a series of military drills in the Strait of Hormuz on 16 February 2026, according to reports from state media. This development comes just before scheduled discussions between Iran and the United States in Geneva on 17 February, mediated by Oman.

The exercises are designed to prepare the IRGC for potential security and military challenges in the region, especially following a significant U.S. naval presence nearby. Approximately 20% of the world's oil production transits through this crucial waterway, making it of global concern.

General Mohammad Pakpour, who leads the IRGC, is overseeing the military operations, which aim to enhance the readiness and rapid response capabilities of the Iranian forces. Historically, Iranian officials have periodically threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz during periods of escalated U.S.-Iranian tensions, although the strait has never actually been shut.

The timing of these drills coincides with the resumption of nuclear negotiations between the two countries, which recommenced on 6 February in Oman after a breakdown in talks last June amid the Iran-Israel conflict. U.S. President Donald Trump has been advocating for a resolution, particularly in light of recent military deployments, which he has referred to as an 'armada'.

In the lead-up to the drills, the U.S. had dispatched an aircraft carrier, the USS Abraham Lincoln, along with accompanying battleships to the Gulf region in January, followed by a planned deployment of a second carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford.

On the day of the drills, IRGC Navy official Mohammad Akbarzadeh stated that all foreign vessels in the area are under thorough surveillance and within Iran's defensive reach. He reassured that Iranian armed forces are proficiently monitoring enemy activities and are fully prepared to address any perceived threats, according to the state-run Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA).