Iran launched live missiles into the Strait of Hormuz during naval exercises on Tuesday and indicated it is ready to shut down the strategic waterway if directed by top leadership, according to Iranian state-linked media.
The drills coincide with President Trump’s envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner meeting senior Iranian officials in Geneva for the second round of nuclear negotiations.
Rear Admiral Alireza Tangsiri, commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy, stated that Tehran is prepared to close the Strait of Hormuz—a critical global oil transit route—per Tasnim News Agency, an outlet affiliated with the IRGC.
Tasnim reported that shipping traffic through the corridor was halted for several hours during the “Smart Control of the Strait of Hormuz” exercise, which included missile launches from vessels, coastal positions and inland sites, as well as drone operations conducted under signal-jamming conditions.
The United States previously urged the IRGC in late January to carry out its announced two-day live-fire naval drill “in a manner that is safe, professional and avoids unnecessary risk to freedom of navigation for international maritime traffic.”
“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 risks of collision, escalation, and destabilization,” the statement noted.
The United States has built up a large military presence in the Middle East as talks over Iran’s nuclear program continue, with U.S. officials signaling that any potential agreement would need to go beyond enrichment and address broader security concerns.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in February that for negotiations to be “meaningful,” they would need to address Iran’s ballistic missiles, its sponsorship of terrorist organizations across the region, its nuclear program and its treatment of its own people.
Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on Monday that he would be involved in the talks “indirectly.”
“They’ll be very important and we’ll see what can happen. Typically, Iran’s a very tough negotiator—are they good or bad? I would say they’re bad negotiators because we could have had a deal instead of sending the B-2’s in to strike their targets,” he said. “And we had to send the B-2’s. I hope they’re going to be more reasonable. They want to make a deal.”