US Naval Exercises in the Persian Gulf Amid Rising Tensions with Iran

The commander of the US Fifth Fleet accused Iran on Sunday, September 9, of exacerbating instability in the Middle East through its activities and support for Houthi rebels in Yemen, while simultaneously announcing military exercises in the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea. Admiral Scott Stearney told reporters at the fleet's headquarters in Bahrain that the US Navy intends to conduct military drills in September to demonstrate its readiness to ensure freedom of navigation in the waterways of the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea. According to Bloomberg, he added that these exercises will involve US regional and global allies and are part of the Fifth Fleet's program to counter mines and practice maritime security. These remarks from the senior US commander coincide with escalating tensions between Tehran and Washington over Iran's nuclear program, the Islamic Republic's role in regional conflicts, and its ballistic missile program. Donald Trump, the US President, withdrew from the nuclear agreement with Iran known as the JCPOA on May 8 and reinstated the first round of sanctions lifted under the agreement in mid-August. The second round of sanctions is set to take effect on November 4, with the primary goal of reducing Iran's oil exports to zero. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani threatened on June 30 that if Iran's oil cannot be exported, then no other country's oil should be exported from the Persian Gulf. He stated, "The Americans claim they want to completely stop Iran's oil exports. They do not understand the meaning of this statement, as it makes no sense for Iran's oil to be exported while the region's oil is exported." Rouhani did not directly refer to closing the Strait of Hormuz, but interpretations and assessments from international circles indicated a threat from Iran in this regard. The Iranian leader also endorsed this threat: Khamenei supported Rouhani's threat regarding the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. These statements sparked significant reactions, especially from US officials. Admiral John Richardson, the US Navy's operational commander, stated that the US will maintain the freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz by any means necessary. Mike Pompeo, the US Secretary of State, also tweeted on August 27 that the Strait of Hormuz is part of an international waterway and is not under Iran's control. The commander of the US Fifth Fleet further stated that one of these exercises will take place in Djibouti, which overlooks Bab el-Mandeb, a very sensitive point for ship traffic in the southern Red Sea. Admiral Stearney added that this series of exercises "will show that the United States and its allies want to ensure freedom of navigation and the free flow of trade permitted under international law." He stated that these exercises are not a response to Iranian threats, but it is essential for US allies to be positioned to "respond to anything that threatens our interests or vessels." This US military commander said that Iran's activities throughout the region have caused "destabilization" and, due to Tehran's support for the Houthi rebels in Yemen, this issue "significantly affects the region." The Houthis, who control Sana'a, the capital of Yemen, are at war with the forces of Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi, the UN-recognized president, who is supported by a coalition of several Arab countries. The Houthis were accused last month of firing at Saudi oil tankers in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which led Saudi Arabia to temporarily halt oil transfers from this waterway.