The exercise, led by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy and supervised by Major General Mohammad Pakpour, aimed to assess the readiness of operational units, review counter-response scenarios, and make smart use of Iran’s geopolitical advantages in the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman.
As the main artery for global energy transit, the Strait of Hormuz has long been at the center of geopolitical competition. In this context, enhancing indigenous capabilities and demonstrating operational readiness are seen as components of a “preemptive deterrence” strategy—one designed to neutralize potential threats before they turn into actual crises. The core message of the drill is that Iran not only maintains full situational awareness of its surrounding environment but also possesses layered and proportionate response capabilities.
Iran’s Legal Right to Ensure Security
One of the key dimensions of the drill is the emphasis on Iran’s legal right to safeguard its security and territorial integrity. Military presence and activity in territorial and adjacent waters are recognized rights under international law, and as a littoral state overlooking the Strait of Hormuz, Iran is entitled to ensure the security of this passage relying on its indigenous capabilities.
The deployment of advanced domestically developed equipment in the drill carries two strategic messages: first, that sanctions have not hindered Iran’s technological progress, and second, that regional security should not be held hostage to the presence of extra-regional fleets. Accordingly, the “Smart Control” drill is not an offensive action but a reaffirmation of a fundamental principle: security in the Persian Gulf must be ensured by regional countries themselves.
A Message of Convergence to Neighbors
Over recent years, Iran has emphasized indigenous and collective security through initiatives such as the Hormuz Peace Endeavor. Within this framework, the recent drill can be seen as a complement to Tehran’s regional diplomacy—a reassuring message to neighboring states that Iran’s defensive capabilities are intended to serve stability and maritime commerce, not instability.
Conversely, the increased presence of U.S. naval vessels in the region, aimed at psychological and political pressure, is part of a “threat-for-concessions” strategy. The Hormuz drill disrupts this equation by demonstrating that the regional balance of power has shifted and that the era of unilateral intimidation is over. Iran seeks to convey that sustainable security can only be achieved through regional cooperation, not costly dependence on external actors.
Field Support for Geneva Diplomacy
The timing of the drill alongside the Geneva negotiations highlights the linkage between the battlefield and diplomacy in Iran’s grand strategy. While the United States attempts to maintain leverage through a mix of military threats and cognitive warfare, Iran neutralizes the “negotiate or war” binary by showcasing its defensive readiness.
The “Smart Control of the Strait of Hormuz” drill serves as a practical backing for Iran’s negotiating team, sending a clear signal that while Iran is willing to offer reasonable and engagement-oriented solutions, it will not submit to excessive demands. This approach reflects an emerging global order in which independent states consolidate their positions through indigenous power.
Ultimately, the drill carries a warning against miscalculations. Iran declares that hostile moves will not go unanswered and that outsourcing threats to other actors will not change the equation. Thus, the Hormuz drill is not merely a military exercise but a strategic statement about the new balance of power in the region.