- Iran issues NOTAM to close airspace over Strait of Hormuz.
- Iran will launch drills for three days within a radius of five nautical miles.
- The NOTAM states that the space from ground level to 25,000 feet must be restricted.
TEHRAN: Iran has issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) announcing live-fire military activity in the airspace near the Strait of Hormuz, hours after US military assets arrived in the Middle East, reflecting heightened tensions in the region.
The aviation alert, published on Tuesday, said Iranian forces will conduct live-fire drills from January 27 to 29 within a five-nautical-mile radius around the strait.
The announcement said the airspace in the designated area — from ground level up to 25,000 feet — will be restricted and considered hazardous during the activity.
The Strait of Hormuz is a strategic choke point for global trade, with millions of barrels of crude oil passing through it every day. Any disruption that often sends ripples through international energy markets and increases geopolitical concern.
The NOTAM comes amid an increase in US military activity in the region, as US Air Forces Central (AFCENT) has announced a multi-day readiness exercise across its area of responsibility, aimed at demonstrating rapid deployment and sustainment capabilities.
Officials in Washington have said all options remain on the table in dealing with Tehran, including the possibility of military action, as the United States and Israel seek to counter Iran’s influence.
Iranian authorities have responded with warnings that any attack would prompt a “swift and comprehensive” response.
The aviation warning will affect civilian and military flights through the area during the exercises. Aviation authorities typically issue NOTAMs in advance of live-fire exercises to warn pilots and airlines of potential hazards and temporary airspace closures.
US warships arrive in ME
The aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and several guided-missile destroyers have crossed into the Middle East region, which falls under the US military’s Central Command, the officials said. Reuters.
US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that the US had an “armada” headed for Iran but hoped he would not have to use it.
The warships began deploying from the Asia-Pacific region earlier this month as tensions between Iran and the United States escalated following a crackdown on protests across Iran.
Trump had repeatedly threatened to intervene if Iran continued to kill protesters, but the nationwide demonstrations have since subsided. The president said he had been told the killings were tapering off and that he believed there was currently no plan to execute prisoners.
The U.S. military has previously moved forces into the Middle East during times of heightened tension, moves that were often defensive.
However, the US military staged a major buildup last year ahead of its strike against Iran’s nuclear program in June.
In addition to the transport ship and warships, the Pentagon is also moving fighter jets and air defense systems to the Middle East.
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday that “Trump will decide what he decides; the State of Israel will decide what it decides”.
But, he added, if Iran attacked Israel, “we will respond with a force that Iran has never seen”.
Iran warns US against attack
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian hit out at US “threats” in a call with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, saying they were “aimed at disrupting the security of the region and will achieve nothing but instability”.
The United States also has several bases in the Middle East, prompting a Revolutionary Guard chief to issue a warning to Iran’s neighbors on Tuesday.
“Neighboring countries are our friends, but if their land, sky or water is used against Iran, they will be considered hostile,” Mohammad Akbarzadeh, political deputy of the IRGC’s naval forces, was quoted as saying by the Fars news agency.
A senior Iranian official said last week that Tehran would consider any attack an “all-out war against us.”
“This military build-up – we hope it’s not meant for real confrontation – but our military is ready for the worst-case scenario. That’s why everything is on high alert in Iran,” the senior Iranian official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
“This time we will treat any attack – limited, unlimited, surgical, kinetic, whatever they call it – as a total war against us and we will respond in the strongest possible way to resolve this,” the official said.
Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates assured Iran that they will not allow their airspace, territory or territorial waters to be used for any hostile military action against the Islamic Republic.
The US military’s Al Dhafra Air Base is located south of the UAE capital Abu Dhabi and has been a critical US Air Force hub in support of key missions against the Islamic State, as well as reconnaissance missions throughout the region.
