Tehran / Washington: Iran on Tuesday issued an airspace warning over the Strait of Hormuz, announcing live-fire military drills near one of the world’s most critical oil shipping routes, as tensions with the United States continue to rise.
Iran released a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) stating that live-fire military activity would take place from January 27 to January 29 in the vicinity of the Strait of Hormuz. The drills will be conducted within a circular zone with a five-nautical-mile radius, according to the notice.
Iranian authorities warned that the designated airspace, extending from ground level up to 25,000 feet, will be restricted and hazardous for the duration of the exercises.
The warning comes amid an increased US military presence in the Middle East as relations between Washington and Tehran further deteriorate.
Earlier, US Air Forces Central (AFCENT) announced a multi-day readiness exercise across the US Central Command (CENTCOM) area of responsibility. The drills aim to demonstrate the US military’s ability to rapidly deploy, disperse, and sustain combat airpower across the region.
The United States has repeatedly said that all options including military action remain on the table in its dealings with Iran. Iranian officials have warned that any US attack would be met with a “swift and comprehensive” response.
The latest developments follow weeks of unrest inside Iran after anti-government protests that began in late December. The US military has since announced another major multi-day exercise in the Middle East, further escalating regional tensions.
In a statement on Tuesday, US Central Command said the drills would demonstrate the ability to deploy and sustain combat airpower across multiple locations in the region. US officials declined to provide specific details about the timing or locations of the exercise.
Military activity has intensified following the arrival of a US aircraft carrier strike group in the Middle East. Two US officials told Reuters that the USS Abraham Lincoln, along with several guided-missile destroyers, has entered the region, expanding President Donald Trump’s options to defend US forces or potentially take military action against Iran.
Trump said last week that an “armada” was heading toward Iran, though he added that he hoped it would not be used. The warships began deploying earlier this month from the Asia-Pacific region as tensions increased over Iran’s handling of domestic protests.
The US president has previously warned that Washington could intervene if Iranian authorities continued to kill protesters, but later said he had been informed that the violence was subsiding and that there were no current plans to execute prisoners.
While the US military has often surged forces into the Middle East during periods of heightened tension, a similar buildup occurred last year ahead of June strikes on Iran’s nuclear programme.
In addition to the carrier strike group, the Pentagon is moving fighter jets and air-defense systems into the region. US officials said the exercises would highlight America’s ability to deploy and sustain airpower across the Middle East.
Iran has remained defiant. A senior Iranian official warned last week that any attack would be viewed as an “all-out war.”
Meanwhile, the United Arab Emirates said on Monday it would not allow its airspace, territory, or territorial waters to be used for hostile military action against Iran. The Al Dhafra Air Base near Abu Dhabi remains a key hub for US Air Force operations in the region.
