Tehran, Iran – In an escalation just 24 hours before the start of the second round of nuclear negotiations, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy announced on Monday the start of a “joint, intense, and targeted” exercise in the Strait of Hormuz. The exercise was dubbed “Smart Control.”
A “hot” response to threat scenarios
The Revolutionary Guard statement emphasized that the exercise aimed to provide a “swift, decisive, and comprehensive response to anti-security plots.” It also aimed to review counter-military action scenarios in the face of any potential threats.
Although the statement described the exercise as “hot,” it did not elaborate on the technical details of this term. It merely referred to testing combat scenarios in the world’s most important waterway.
Messages to Trump and the US Navy
These Iranian moves come as a direct response to the increased US naval presence in the Gulf of Oman. According to US officials, the fleet deployment is intended to give President Donald Trump “freedom of action,” providing him with open military options should diplomatic efforts fail.
