Iran Denies Reports of Planned Live-Fire Drills in Strategic Strait of Hormuz
DUBAI, Feb 1 (Reuters) — Iran has moved to quell regional tensions, with a senior official denying reports that its elite Revolutionary Guards planned to hold live-fire naval exercises in the strategically crucial Strait of Hormuz this week. The official, speaking to Reuters on Sunday, stated that no such drills were scheduled, contradicting earlier claims from some media outlets.
The clarification comes after Iran's state-run Press TV reported on Thursday that the IRGC naval forces would conduct exercises in the narrow waterway—through which about a fifth of the world's seaborne oil passes—on February 1 and 2. The initial report had raised concerns over potential disruptions to shipping lanes and an escalation in regional friction.
"There was no plan for the Guards to hold military exercises there, and there was no official announcement about it. These were only media reports, which were wrong," the Iranian official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Analysis: The swift denial highlights Tehran's sensitivity to perceptions of its military posture in the Gulf, a region already on high alert due to ongoing geopolitical strains. The Strait of Hormuz remains a global chokepoint for energy supplies, and any hint of Iranian military activity there typically draws immediate international scrutiny. This episode underscores the fragile balance between Tehran's demonstrations of military readiness and its efforts to avoid actions that could provoke a broader crisis or further economic pressure.
Reactions & Commentary
Dr. Anahita Rasoul, Regional Security Analyst, Gulf Studies Center: "This appears to be a calibrated de-escalation. Tehran may be signaling that while it maintains the capability to project power in the Strait, it is not currently seeking to test boundaries in a way that could trigger an immediate response. The management of information—and misinformation—is itself a tool of statecraft in this volatile arena."
James Callahan, Former Naval Officer & Shipping Consultant: "For commercial shipping interests, this denial offers temporary relief. However, the underlying risk remains unchanged. The IRGC retains a significant asymmetric naval presence in the area, and the potential for miscalculation or a rapid change in posture is ever-present. The market's jitters over the initial report were a reminder of the Strait's systemic importance."
Roya Karimi, Political Commentator based in Tehran: "This is yet another example of irresponsible journalism causing unnecessary panic. The Western media's eagerness to amplify any story about Iranian military moves fuels a cycle of tension that serves no one but hardliners on all sides. The official denial should be taken at face value."
Markus Schneider, Berlin-based Foreign Policy Analyst: "Nonsense. This is classic Iranian strategic ambiguity. They let a provocative report circulate through a state-linked channel, gauge the international reaction, and then 'officially' deny it. It's a low-cost way to remind everyone of their leverage over the global economy without firing a single shot. The signal was sent and received, regardless of the denial."
(Reporting by Parisa Hafezi; Editing by Jane Merriman)