ISTANBUL

Iran said Thursday it will conduct live-fire naval exercises next week in the Strait of Hormuz amid escalating tensions with Washington and fears of a possible US strike on the country, state media reported.

Press TV reported that the drills will be carried out by the naval forces of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), without specifying exact dates or the scale of the exercises.

The Strait of Hormuz is a strategic waterway through which around 20% of the world’s oil supply passes.

The announcement comes as tensions have escalated between Tehran and Washington in recent weeks, following US President Donald Trump’s latest remarks that a “massive armada” was moving toward Iran, alongside his call for Tehran to “come to the table” for negotiations.

Iranian officials have warned that any US attack would draw a “swift and comprehensive” response, while reiterating that Tehran remains open to talks only under what it describes as “fair, balanced and noncoercive terms.”