Tehran: In a show of strength within hours of renewed diplomatic efforts between it and the United States to try and revive negotiations over the country’s nuclear programme, Iran launched live-fire naval exercises in the Strait of Hormuz on Monday.
According to state-run IRNA news agency, the drill, named “Smart Control of the Strait of Hormuz”, was led by the naval forces of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) under the supervision of IRGC Commander in Chief Maj Gen Mohammad Pakpour.
The exercise was organised to assess the readiness of operational units, review security plans and rehearse responses to potential security and military threats in the strategic waterway, IRNA said, as reported by News18.
The live-fire exercises were conducted even as the USS Abraham Lincoln carried out round-the-clock flight operations in the Middle East.
Amid all of this muscle flexing, Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said on X that he was in Geneva with “real ideas to achieve a fair and equitable deal”.
“What is not on the table: submission before threats,” he added.
The second round of talks would be held on Tuesday with the mediation and good offices of Oman, Tehran said. Negotiations had restarted in Muscat on February 6 after earlier talks collapsed when Israel launched a bombing campaign against Iran in June, leading to a 12-day war.
US president Donald Trump has ordered a build-up of US military forces in the Middle East and has threatened to strike Iran if it does not agree to a nuclear deal. On Friday, he also endorsed regime change in Tehran, saying it would be the “best thing that could happen” for Iran.
The US Central Command shared images on X showing EA-18G Growlers from Electronic Attack Squadron 133 and F-35C Lightning IIs from Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 314 preparing for launch from the USS Abraham Lincoln.
The aircraft carrier was operating in international waters in the Middle East and conducting around-the-clock flight operations in support of regional security, the post said.
The deployment has been described as an “armada” by the Pentagon. The USS Abraham Lincoln is accompanied by three warships equipped with Tomahawk missiles and is at the centre of a broader US naval build-up in the region.
There was “significant and legitimate doubt” that Iran would agree to give up any ambitions of nuclear weaponry, US ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee said on Monday.
