On the eve of a new round of negotiations with the United States, Iran began this Monday (16) naval exercises in the Strait of Hormuz, a corridor through which around a third of the oil transported by sea in the world passes.
The movement was revealed by Financial Times and comes at a time of heightened military rhetoric between the two countries.
According to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the operations aim to measure the level of preparedness of forces in the face of “possible military and security threats”. The agency Tasnim reported that the corporation’s commander-in-chief, Major General Mohammad Pakpour, personally followed the maneuvers.
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The military gesture takes place on the eve of a meeting between Iranian and American representatives in Switzerland, mediated by Oman. The talks continue recent negotiations on Tehran’s nuclear program.
US President Donald Trump once again mentioned the possibility of military action if there is no progress in negotiations, while reinforcing the American naval presence in the region with the dispatch of a second aircraft carrier strike group.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated, in a post on social media, that he arrived in Geneva with “concrete” proposals for an understanding, but ruled out any negotiation under pressure.
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Tehran maintains that the focus should be restricted to the nuclear issue. Washington now defends including the country’s ballistic missile program and support for armed groups in the Middle East in the debate.
Also this Monday, Araghchi met with Rafael Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). According to Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the meeting dealt with technical aspects of cooperation with the international body, amid impasses over inspections and stocks of enriched uranium.
The Strait of Hormuz is considered a sensitive point for global energy trade. Iran has previously signaled that it could block the passage in the event of a conflict. For the international market, any escalation in the region tends to generate volatility in oil prices and increase geopolitical risk.
