Iran issues air warning over Hormuz drills as US steps up military presence

Live-fire exercises to restrict airspace near key oil route amid rising US-Iran tensions

Iran on Tuesday issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM), warning of live-fire military activity in the airspace along the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global oil shipping route.

The notice said the live-fire activity would be conducted as part of military drills in the vicinity of the strait. It said the exercises would take place from Jan. 27 to Jan. 29 within a circular area with a radius of five nautical miles.

Iran said the designated airspace, from ground level up to 25,000 feet, would be restricted and hazardous for the duration of the drills.

The warning comes as the United States steps up its military posture in the region amid escalating tensions with Tehran.

Read: US flexes military muscle as Iran pushes back

US Air Forces Central (AFCENT) earlier announced it would conduct a multi-day readiness exercise across the US Central Command area of responsibility to demonstrate rapid deployment and sustainment capabilities.

The United States has said that all options, including military action, remain on the table in dealing with Iran, as Washington and Israel seek to change Tehran’s ruling system. Iranian officials have warned that any US attack would draw a “swift and comprehensive” response.

The US military has also announced a major multi-day exercise in the Middle East, sharply raising tensions after weeks of unrest inside Iran triggered by anti-government protests that began in late December.

In a statement on Tuesday, US Central Command said the drills would “demonstrate the ability to deploy, disperse, and sustain combat airpower across” the Middle East, underscoring operational readiness across multiple locations. US officials declined to give details about the timing or locations of the exercise.

Read more: US deploys aircraft carrier as Iran warns against attack

The military activity follows the arrival of a US aircraft carrier strike group in the region. Two US officials told Reuters that the USS Abraham Lincoln and several guided-missile destroyers have entered the Middle East, expanding President Donald Trump’s options to defend US forces or potentially take military action against Iran.

Trump said last week the United States had an “armada” heading toward Iran, though he added that he hoped it would not be used. The warships began deploying from the Asia-Pacific region earlier this month as tensions rose over Iran’s crackdown on protests.

Trump has previously threatened to intervene if Iranian authorities continued to kill protesters, but said the demonstrations had since abated. He said he had been told that killings were subsiding and that there was currently no plan to execute prisoners.

Also read: Saudi won’t let its airspace or land be used for a strike on Iran, crown prince says

While the US military has often surged forces into the Middle East during periods of tension, it staged a major buildup last year ahead of June strikes on Iran’s nuclear programme.

In addition to the carrier and warships, the Pentagon is moving fighter jets and air-defence systems to the region. Over the weekend, the US military said the exercise would show its ability to deploy and sustain airpower across the Middle East.

A senior Iranian official said last week that Tehran would view any attack as an “all-out war against us.”

The United Arab Emirates said on Monday it would not allow its airspace, territory or territorial waters to be used for any hostile military actions against Iran. The US military’s Al Dhafra Air Base, south of Abu Dhabi, is a key hub for US Air Force operations in the region.