U.S. Central Command is urging the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to conduct a scheduled naval exercise safely and avoid “escalatory behavior at sea.” On Thursday, Iran announced that the IRGC would be “conducting a two-day live-fire naval exercise in the Strait of Hormuz, scheduled to begin on Sunday.” On Friday, CENTCOM said it “urges the IRGC to conduct the announced naval exercise in a manner that is safe, professional and avoids unnecessary risk to freedom of navigation for international maritime traffic,” noting that the Strait of Hormuz connecting the Persian Gulf with the world is an international sea passage.
We will not tolerate unsafe IRGC actions,” the command said, adding that “the U.S. military has the most highly trained and lethal force in the world and will continue to operate with the highest levels of professionalism and adhere to international norms. “Iran’s IRGC must do the same,” CENTCOM stated.
Jim Hanson, president of the WorldStrat information warfare firm and chief editor of the Middle East Forum, said, “Just a friendly note to Iran that all of its relatively pathetic navy are simply oil slicks waiting to happen.” Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump remained coy on Friday on the prospect of a military strike, saying that Iranians “want to make a deal” that would spell the end of their nuclear ambitions. (Ed note: In your face, IRGC!) (Read More)
