Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps on Monday (February 16, 2026) began a series of military exercises in the Strait of Hormuz, state media reported, on the eve of talks with the United States. The war games, the duration of which was not specified, aim to prepare the Guards for "potential security and military threats" in the strait, state TV said, after the United States deployed a large naval force to the area. Iranian hardline politicians have repeatedly threatened to block the strait, especially during times of heightened tensions with the United States, but it has never been closed. The exercises, overseen by Guards chief General Mohammad Pakpour, aim to bolster the IRGC's ability to react quickly, Iranian media reported. The Guards are the ideological arm of Iran's military.

Source: The Hindu February 16, 2026 17:48 UTC