Trump’s ‘armada’ issues warning to Tehran
The US military has issued a formal warning to Iran over its planned live-fire naval exercises in the Strait of Hormuz, while simultaneously conducting major “readiness exercises” of its own across the Middle East.
In a statement released on Friday, US Central Command (CENTCOM) urged Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy to conduct its two-day drill beginning Sunday “in a manner that is safe, professional and avoids unnecessary risk.”
“We will not tolerate unsafe IRGC actions including overflight of US military vessels engaged in flight operations, low-altitude or armed overflight of US military assets when intentions are unclear, highspeed boat approaches on a collision course with US military vessels, or weapons trained at US forces,” the command stated.
The warning comes as the US itself is executing large-scale, multi-day military drills across the region. US Air Forces Central (AFCENT) announced the exercises this week, designed to practice the rapid deployment and sustainment of combat aircraft to various “contingency locations.”
The air drills complement the naval buildup that US President Donald Trump has publicly championed. “There’s another beautiful armada floating beautifully towards Iran right now,” Trump said earlier this week, referencing a carrier strike group led by the USS Abraham Lincoln.
“We have a lot of very big, very powerful ships sailing to Iran right now, and it would be great if we didn’t have to use them,” Trump told reporters on Thursday, adding that he prefers to resolve the tensions diplomatically. He reiterated two core demands: “Number one, no nuclear. And number two, stop killing protesters.”
Iranian state media announced the exercises following Trump’s social media post warning that the “next attack will be far worse” than previous strikes, urging Iran to “MAKE A DEAL.”
Iran responded to the threats with defiance. Its UN mission posted a warning on social media stating that it stands “ready for dialogue,” but if pushed, it will “defend itself and respond like never before.”
A deputy foreign minister said the country is “200 percent ready” and would deliver an “appropriate response, not a proportionate one,” potentially targeting US bases.
The Strait of Hormuz, where Iran plans to conduct exercises, is a critical chokepoint for global oil shipments, with around 100 merchant vessels transiting daily. CENTCOM’s statement acknowledged Iran’s right to “operate professionally” in international airspace and waters.
