Russia and Iran conducted joint military exercises in the Strait of Hormuz against the backdrop of Trump's threats.
Military preparations began after negotiations between the US and Iran in Geneva.
At a time when Iran-US relations are becoming strained, today, February 19, Iran and Russia conducted military exercises in the area adjacent to the Strait of Hormuz, near the coast of Bandar Abbas.
On Monday, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), considered the ideological wing of the Iranian armed forces, began exercises in the strategically important Strait of Hormuz. This is being assessed as an open signal to the US naval forces deployed in the region.
The main goal of the exercises is to strengthen maritime security and deepen cooperation between the two countries' fleets. No precise information was provided on how long the exercises will last.
These military exercises coincided with a time when Iran expressed a relatively positive mood following the second round of talks held in Geneva on Tuesday under Omani mediation.
Previous talks had collapsed after Israel's unprecedented strike on Iran in June 2025. This incident led to a 12-day war, in which the US also briefly participated.
US President Donald Trump has deployed a large naval force to the region, calling it an "armada."
Iranian officials have threatened several times to close the Strait of Hormuz during periods of heightened tension with the US, but it has never been fully closed to date.
The Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for global oil and liquefied gas shipments, has been the scene of various incidents several times before and has returned to the spotlight due to increased pressure against the backdrop of US-Iran negotiations.
On Tuesday, Iran announced that it would partially close the strait for several hours "for security reasons" during the exercises it is conducting there.
