Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Begin Military Exercises Near Disputed Gulf Islands

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards commenced military exercises on Wednesday near the strategic Gulf islands of Abu Musa, Greater Tunb, and Lesser Tunb, controlled by Iran but claimed by the United Arab Emirates (UAE), according to state media. These maneuvers come two weeks after the US heightened its naval presence in the Gulf. The official IRNA news agency reported that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps initiated naval exercises to defend the Iranian islands in the Persian Gulf. The drills include Ghadir anti-ship cruise missile systems, Fath-360 ballistic missiles, unmanned vessels equipped with artificial intelligence, and aerial assets such as warplanes, helicopters, and drones. The exercises come amid growing tensions in the region; last month, the US deployed a destroyer and F-35 and F-16 warplanes to the Middle East to deter Iran. The islands near the Strait of Hormuz have been a contentious issue between Iran and the UAE for decades, with Iran summoning the Russian ambassador last month over challenges to its claim.