The United States Federal Aviation Administration said that Iran has issued a new Notice to Air Missions stating that it plans to conduct missile launch operations in southern parts of the country on Thursday from 0300 to 1330 GMT.
The notice comes amid rising tensions between the United States and Iran. The air navigation alert system provides pilots, flight crews and other airspace users with critical safety information.
On Monday, Iranian naval forces launched military exercises in the Strait of Hormuz aimed at confronting what were described as “security threats”, according to Iranian state television.
Iranian television reported that the drills are being conducted under the title “Smart Control of the Strait of Hormuz”, coinciding with ongoing tensions with the United States.
It stated that naval forces affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps are overseeing the exercises, though no duration was announced.
The drills focus on the Guard’s ability to deliver rapid, decisive and comprehensive responses to potential threats from the sea. Tehran views the recent reinforcement of the United States military presence in the region, including the deployment of additional naval forces, as a security threat.
Strategic Waterway Under Pressure
The Strait of Hormuz is widely recognised as a strategic transit point through which a significant portion of global oil trade passes. Iran has previously stated that it would close the Strait of Hormuz in the event of a potential war with the United States.
In recent months, American and Israeli pressure on Iran has intensified, seeking to compel Tehran to abandon uranium enrichment activities, transfer enriched uranium outside the country and include its missile programme and support for armed groups in the region within the scope of negotiations. Iran has rejected these demands, maintaining that it will only negotiate over its nuclear file.
Tehran argues that Washington and Tel Aviv are fabricating pretexts to justify interference and regime change efforts. Iranian officials have warned that any military attack, even if limited, would be met with a response. At the same time, Iran insists on the lifting of Western economic sanctions in exchange for restrictions on its nuclear programme.
Israel and its ally the United States accuse Iran of pursuing nuclear weapons capability, while Tehran maintains that its nuclear programme is designed for peaceful purposes, including electricity generation.
