The United States (US) Central Command or CENTCOM said it “will not tolerate unsafe actions” by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), after Tehran announced naval drills involving live fire drills in the Strait of Hormuz as tensions escalate.
CENTCOM in its warning, as reported Anadolu AgencySaturday (31/1/2026), urged the IRGC to “conduct naval exercises
announced in a safe, professional manner and avoiding unnecessary risks without freedom of navigation for international maritime traffic.”
“CENTCOM will ensure the safety of US personnel, ships and aircraft operating in the Middle East,” CENTCOM emphasized in its statement.
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It also emphasized that the US “will not tolerate unsafe IRGC actions, including overflights over US military vessels engaged in overflight operations, low-level flights, or armed overflights over US military assets when the intent is unclear, high-speed approaches of vessels leading to collisions with US military vessels, or weapons directed at US forces”.
Iranian state media, Press TVpreviously announced that the IRGC would hold live fire drills in the waters of the Strait of Hormuz on February 1-2 in the Strait of Hormuz.
The Strait of Hormuz is the world’s most important oil export route, connecting the largest oil producers in the Gulf region, such as Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq and the United Arab Emirates, with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. This waterway passes around 20 percent of global oil supplies.
CENTCOM in its statement emphasized that “the Strait of Hormuz is an international sea lane and an important trade corridor that supports regional economic prosperity”.
CENTCOM confirmed that it recognizes Iran’s “right to operate professionally in international airspace and waters”
But CENTCOM also warned that “unsafe and unprofessional behavior near US forces, regional partners, or commercial vessels increases the risk of collision, escalation, and destabilization.”
“The US military has the most well-trained and lethal force in the world and will continue to operate with the highest level of professionalism and in compliance with international norms,” CENTCOM stressed, urging the IRGC to do the same.
The announcement comes as tensions have risen between Tehran and Washington in recent weeks following anti-government protests in Iran. The protests spread to several cities and continued for two weeks, marked by a harsh crackdown by Iranian security forces against demonstrators.
US President Donald Trump has said that a “large fleet” of American ships is moving towards Iran, along with his demand that Tehran “come to the negotiating table” to negotiate.
Iranian officials have warned that any US strike would trigger a “rapid and comprehensive” response, while reiterating that Tehran remains open to talks only on “fair, balanced and non-coercive terms”.
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