The commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps naval force has announced that the IRGC’s intelligence unit maintains round-the-clock surveillance over the Strait of Hormuz, the world’s most critical oil transit route connecting the Persian Gulf to the Indian Ocean.
IRGC Navy Launches War Game in Hormuz Straithttps://t.co/jAfu7O2Dz0 pic.twitter.com/yVGHkGxImQ
— Tasnim News Agency (@Tasnimnews_EN) February 16, 2026
Speaking on Monday, Rear Admiral Alireza Tangsiri addressed ongoing maneuvers dubbed “Defensive Strength and Offensive Operations from the Persian Gulf Islands,” describing the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz as “invincible fortresses” and a “national honor” for Iranians.
The exercises, featuring new tactics and equipment, are part of the annual program to prepare for securing this strategic region, with the IRGC Navy bearing responsibility for defending the islands and safeguarding the vital waterway.
Rear Admiral Tangsiri emphasized that rapid and decisive response by IRGC operational units to maritime insecurity plots remains central to the drills, which aim to protect the interests of nations navigating through the strait.
The surveillance operation is comprehensive, covering surface, aerial, and subsurface movements, as part of a strategic approach to ensuring safe passage. Highlighting the strait’s critical role in regional and global trade, the navy commander noted that more than 80 oil tankers and commercial ships transit the waterway daily. The IRGC surveillance, he stressed, is designed to guarantee secure passage for non-hostile countries whose economic interests are tied to this strategic corridor.
Source: Iranian media (edite dby Al-Manar)