The United States believes Iran is preparing to carry out a major exercise in the Persian Gulf in the coming days, apparently moving up the timing of annual drills amid heightened tensions with Washington, U.S. officials said Wednesday.
Iran has been furious over U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to pull out of an international nuclear deal and reimpose sanctions on Iran. Senior Iranian officials have warned that the country will not yield easily to a renewed U.S. campaign to strangle Iran's vital oil exports.
The U.S. military's Central Command confirmed that it has seen an increase in Iranian activity, including in the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway for oil shipments that Iran's Revolutionary Guards have threatened to block.
"We are aware of the increase in Iranian naval operations within the Arabian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz and Gulf of Oman," said U.S. Navy Capt. Bill Urban, chief spokesman at Central Command, which oversees U.S. forces in the Middle East.
"We are monitoring it closely, and will continue to work with our partners to ensure freedom of navigation and the free flow of commerce in international waterways," Urban said.
Urban did not provide further information or comment on questions about the expected Iranian drills.
But U.S. officials said Iran's Revolutionary Guards Corps appears to have prepared more than 100 vessels for exercises. Hundreds of ground forces could also be involved.
They said the drills could begin within the next 48 hours, although the precise timing was unclear.
Details of the Iranian preparations were first reported by CNN.
U.S. officials said the timing of the drills appeared designed to send a message to Washington, which is intensifying its economic and diplomatic pressure on Iran but so far stopping short of using the U.S. military to more aggressively counter Iran and its proxies.
Trump's policies are already putting significant pressure on the Iranian economy, although U.S. intelligence suggests they may ultimately rally Iranians against the United States and strengthen Iran's hard-line rulers, officials say.
Iran's currency plumbed new depths this week as Iranians brace for Aug. 7, when Washington is due to reimpose the first round of economic sanctions following Trump's withdrawal from the nuclear deal.
