IRGC Navy Places Strait of Hormuz Under Round-the-Clock Surveillance as Tensions Rise With US
Iran’s top naval commander has declared that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) maintains “full 24-hour intelligence dominance” over the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, as Tehran launches large-scale military drills amid escalating tensions with the United States.
IRGC Navy Chief Alireza Tangsiri made the remarks in Tehran on Monday, hours after the start of a major exercise in the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial global shipping route linking the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman.
According to Iran’s state media, Tangsiri said the IRGC Navy’s surveillance is “comprehensive at surface, aerial and sub-surface levels,” ensuring the safe passage of vessels through the strait. He noted that more than 80 oil tankers and container ships transit the waterway daily, making it one of the world’s most critical maritime trade corridors.
The IRGC described the operation as “combined, live and purpose-driven” drills, being conducted across both the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz. Tangsiri referred to islands in the region as “impregnable fortresses,” stressing that their defense, along with the security of the wider maritime zone, is the responsibility of the IRGC Navy.
He added that the exercises form part of the force’s annual programme, with new tactical manoeuvres and equipment being tested, some of which have not yet been officially unveiled. Central to the drills, he said, is the ability of IRGC rapid-response units to intervene quickly against maritime security threats, including inspecting or seizing “unauthorised vessels.”
Earlier, the IRGC announced that the exercise, titled “Smart Control of the Strait of Hormuz,” is being carried out under the supervision of IRGC Commander-in-Chief Mohammad Pakpour. The objectives include assessing operational readiness, testing security scenarios, and evaluating Iran’s strategic and geopolitical leverage in the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman.
The drills come against the backdrop of rising Iran–US tensions following increased American military deployments in the region. On Friday, US President Donald Trump announced the deployment of a second US aircraft carrier to the Middle East. The USS Abraham Lincoln and a fleet of destroyers are already stationed in the area.
Despite the military buildup, Tehran and Washington are scheduled to resume nuclear negotiations in Geneva on Tuesday under Omani mediation. Indirect talks restarted earlier this month in Muscat, nearly eight months after they were suspended following an Israeli strike on Iran that triggered a 12-day conflict.
The report was published by Anadolu Agency.
