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Tehran underscores full-spectrum military oversight of key global energy chokepoint amid sensitive negotiations
Iran has sent a pointed strategic message to the United States during ongoing negotiations by launching a major military exercise in the Strait of Hormuz, according to Nournews. The drill, titled “Smart Control of the Strait of Hormuz,” is being described not merely as a routine maneuver, but as a calculated demonstration of Iran’s defensive capabilities and geopolitical leverage in one of the world’s most vital waterways.
The exercise, led by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy under the supervision of Major General Mohammad Pakpour, focuses on assessing operational readiness, rehearsing counter-threat scenarios, and leveraging Iran’s strategic advantages in the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman.
Why Now — and Why Hormuz?
The Strait of Hormuz, through which more than 20 percent of the world’s oil supply passes, has long been at the heart of global geopolitical competition. By staging the drill at this critical juncture — and during sensitive diplomatic talks in Geneva — Tehran appears to be reinforcing what it calls a strategy of “active deterrence.”
According to Iranian news site Nournews, the timing reflects the integration of “field power and diplomacy” in Iran’s broader strategy. As Washington increases military presence in the region in what Iranian officials describe as psychological and political pressure tactics, Tehran’s response has been to showcase operational readiness while continuing negotiations.
The core message: Iran maintains full intelligence and operational control over its surrounding waters and possesses multilayered response capabilities to any perceived threat.
“Complete Oversight” of the Strait
IRGC Navy Commander Rear Admiral Alireza Tangsiri stated that Iran exercises round-the-clock, full-spectrum surveillance over the Strait of Hormuz.
“Our oversight in the Strait of Hormuz is complete — on the surface, above the surface (air), and even below the surface,” Tangsiri said. “This intelligence dominance is aimed at ensuring secure passage through this strategic waterway.”
He emphasized that Iranian islands in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz serve as “impregnable fortresses” and are considered integral to national sovereignty. The IRGC Navy, he noted, has been tasked with defending the islands, the Gulf, and the strait, conducting annual drills to maintain preparedness.
Tangsiri added that rapid-response units are continuously trained to confront maritime security threats, inspect or detain violating vessels if necessary, and coordinate with other security bodies to maintain stability.
More than 80 oil tankers and commercial container ships pass through the strait daily, representing a significant portion of global maritime trade. “The economies of regional and even extra-regional countries are tied to the security of this waterway,” Tangsiri said, stressing that Iran seeks to ensure safe transit for all non-hostile nations.
Security by Regional States, Not Foreign Fleets
Iranian officials have framed the exercise as a reaffirmation of the principle that Persian Gulf security should be maintained by regional countries rather than external powers. The deployment of advanced domestically produced military equipment during the drill is presented as evidence that international sanctions have not hindered Iran’s technological progress.
While some aspects of the exercise were made public, Tangsiri noted that additional capabilities remain undisclosed and will be revealed “at the appropriate time.”
According to Nournews, the drill is not intended as an offensive move but as a stabilizing measure reinforcing Iran’s legal right under international law to secure its territorial waters and safeguard freedom of navigation.
Backing Diplomacy with Deterrence
The exercise’s overlap with negotiations in Geneva is widely interpreted as strategic. Iranian officials argue that the display of military preparedness neutralizes the “negotiation or war” dichotomy and strengthens the country’s diplomatic position.
Tehran’s stance, as conveyed through the drill, suggests that while Iran remains open to engagement and reasonable solutions, it will not yield to pressure or coercive tactics.
In this light, the “Smart Control” exercise serves as both a military rehearsal and a geopolitical statement — signaling that any miscalculation in the region would face a swift and proportionate response.
Photo: Nournews