Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Launch Military Drills in Strait of Hormuz Amidst US Naval Presence

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commenced a series of military exercises in the Strait of Hormuz on Monday, February 16, 2026, according to state media reports. The drills are taking place ahead of scheduled negotiations with the United States, raising tensions in the region.

Strategic Significance of the Drills

The war games, the duration of which has not been specified, aim to prepare the IRGC for “potential security and military threats” in the strait, following a significant deployment of US naval forces to the area DW. Iranian hardline politicians have repeatedly threatened to block the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway through which approximately 20% of the world’s oil production passes DW, News18.

IRGC Readiness and Oversight

The exercises are being overseen by IRGC chief General Mohammad Pakpour and are focused on bolstering the IRGC’s ability to react quickly Economic Times. The IRGC is the ideological arm of Iran’s military.

Renewed Talks with the United States

These drills coincide with preparations for a recent round of talks between Iran and the United States in Geneva on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, mediated by Oman DW, Economic Times. The two countries, which have been adversaries for four decades, resumed discussions on February 6, 2026, in Oman, marking the first diplomatic engagement since talks broke down in June 2025 following strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities during the Iran-Israel war DW.

US Naval Buildup

US President Donald Trump, who is advocating for Iran to reach an agreement, has deployed a substantial naval force to the region, which he has termed an “armada” DW. Following the deployment of the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and its escort warships to the Gulf in January, Trump announced on Friday, February 14, 2026, that a second aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford, would soon depart for the Middle East DW, News18, Economic Times.