Iran conducts major military drills in the Strait of Hormuz and says it will not start a war

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy held a series of military exercises in the Strait of Hormuz, which it called 'Smart Control of the Strait of Hormuz' drills. The exercises included testing a new air defense missile and involved the warship Shahid Mahdavi. Iranian media reported the strait was temporarily closed for a few hours during the live-fire drills.

Iranian officials, including President Pezeshkian and an envoy to the United Nations named Iravani, stated that Iran is not seeking to initiate a war but is prepared to respond decisively to any aggression. The IRGC navy chief said the strait is under 24-hour surveillance. Separately, the IRGC said it captured nearly a dozen senior members of the PJAK group in western Iran.

Iran's intelligence minister warned Western countries they would face consequences for designating the IRGC as a terrorist organization. State media also showcased a new ballistic missile, the Khorramshahr-4, at an IRGC facility.