Admiral Tangsiri: We Are Ready to Close the Strait of Hormuz
WANA (Feb 17) – The commander of the naval force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) stated that the force’s operational capabilities in real wartime conditions go beyond what is displayed during military exercises. His remarks were made as the “Smart Control of the Strait of Hormuz” drill was underway, drawing the attention of regional and international observers.
Rear Admiral Alireza Tangsiri, speaking on the sidelines of the main phase of the exercise, emphasized: “The weapons that enter the battlefield on the day of war are not necessarily the same as those used in drills, and there is a difference between real operational capability in combat conditions and what is demonstrated in exercises.”
Referring to the strategic position of the Strait of Hormuz, he said that whenever Iranian forces declare the area “cleared,” opposing sides are compelled to remain on the other side of the strait and are unable to approach. The Strait of Hormuz is considered one of the world’s most vital energy corridors, with a significant portion of global seaborne oil exports passing through it.
Iranian Naval Drill in Strait of Hormuz on Feb 17, 2026. Social media/ WANA News Agency
The “Smart Control of the Strait of Hormuz” exercise was held with the stated objective of “ensuring security and guaranteeing safe maritime navigation,” and involved naval combat and rapid-reaction units. During the drill, high-speed missile-launching vessels conducted missile operations, and missiles were fired from inland areas of Iran, as well as from the coasts and islands of the Persian Gulf, toward designated targets within the strait.
Drone units also carried out operations using reconnaissance and combat UAVs, including exercises under signal-jamming conditions.
According to military observers present, both fixed and moving targets were struck with high precision. The IRGC Navy commander said that “new tactics and weapons” were deployed in the exercise but declined to provide further details due to security considerations.
In another part of his remarks, Tangsiri addressed the possibility of closing the Strait of Hormuz, stating that such a decision would be made at the highest levels of government. He added that the force under his command is “ready to carry out such an operation in the shortest possible time” if ordered to do so.
Iranian Naval Drill in Strait of Hormuz on Feb 17, 2026. Social media/ WANA News Agency
During the exercise, parts of the Strait of Hormuz were temporarily closed for several hours in order to comply with maritime safety requirements—an action that organizers described as part of the training scenario.
These statements come at a time when the security of international waterways and freedom of navigation in the Persian Gulf remain central to ongoing geopolitical developments, and any change in the status of the Strait of Hormuz could have wide-ranging economic and security consequences on a global scale.
