Joint Naval Exercise by the U.S. and Allies Around the Strait of Hormuz; Objective: Deterrence of the Islamic Republic's Malicious Activities

The U.S. Central Command announced the holding of a joint naval exercise with its allies in and around the Strait of Hormuz last month. This command stated that in this joint maritime security operation, unmanned military equipment, coordinated with manned ships, tracked Iranian naval vessels and small boats of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to strengthen the U.S. and its allies' maritime presence in the Persian Gulf and act as a deterrent against the destabilizing activities of the Islamic Republic. In this operation, unmanned underwater, surface, and aerial vehicles assisted the U.S. naval fleet. The operation was conducted by seven operational groups under the control of the U.S. Fifth Fleet, with sailors, marines, coast guards, ships, and aircraft performing maneuvers and simulations to counter the Iranian naval provocations. Admiral Brad Cooper, deputy commander of the U.S. Central Command and Fifth Fleet, stated, "The presence of unmanned platforms in operations increases maritime awareness and consequently deterrence in the region." Cooper added that these assets generally support safe navigation and the free flow of trade in critical areas of the Persian Gulf, particularly around the Strait of Hormuz, and effectively prevent the Islamic Republic's malicious activities. The U.S. Central Command and the operational area of the Fifth Fleet cover approximately 2.5 million square miles of water, including the Persian Gulf, Red Sea, Sea of Oman, Gulf of Aden, Arabian Sea, and parts of the Indian Ocean, as well as three critical points: the Strait of Hormuz, the Suez Canal, and the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait. It is noteworthy that the U.S. Air Force commander in the Middle East also told a group of defense writers in Washington on Wednesday that after the IRGC repeatedly targeted vessels around the Strait of Hormuz and the Sea of Oman earlier this year, the "show of American power" was sufficient for the "retreat of the Islamic Republic." According to Voice of America, General Greenkwitz stated, "It seems that the decision in July to deploy F-35 and F-16 fighters to the Persian Gulf along with a naval destroyer and an amphibious assault group that included 2,500 American marines created a 'proper echo' among the Islamic Republic's officials." He added that this action deterred the Islamic Republic from any actions against international shipping. According to this report, the Islamic Republic has seized or harassed nearly 20 vessels in the region over the past two years. The Islamic Republic claims that these actions are aimed at "combating fuel smuggling." Tensions in the Strait of Hormuz; Western naval forces warned commercial ships to stay away from Iranian territorial waters. The U.S. Air Force commander in the Middle East: We forced the Islamic Republic to retreat with a "show of power" in the Strait of Hormuz. The IRGC: Two more oil tankers were seized in the Persian Gulf; the U.S.: The "validity of the claim" is questionable. The discharge of the "seized Iranian oil cargo" in Texas began despite IRGC threats. Pentagon spokesperson: Increased U.S. military presence in the Persian Gulf reduces the Islamic Republic's sabotage activities. American F-35 fighters are in the area under CENTCOM coverage; the goal: to support the Fifth Naval Fleet. Western naval forces warned commercial ships: Stay away from Iranian territorial waters.