- Iran issues NOTAM for closure of airspace over Strait of Hormuz.
- Iran to launch three-day exercises within a five nautical mile radius.
- The NOTAM indicates that the space between ground level and 25,000 feet must be restricted.
TEHRAN: Iran issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) announcing live-fire military activity in the airspace near the Strait of Hormuz, hours after the arrival of US military assets in the Middle East, reflecting heightened tensions in the region.
The aerial warning, issued Tuesday, said Iranian forces will conduct live-fire exercises from Jan. 27 to 29 within a five-nautical-mile radius of the strait.
The notice states that airspace in the designated area – from ground level to 25,000 feet – will be restricted and considered hazardous for the duration of the activity.
The Strait of Hormuz is a strategic chokepoint for global trade, with millions of barrels of crude oil passing through it every day. Any disruption in this country often has repercussions on international energy markets and exacerbates geopolitical concerns.
The NOTAM comes amid increased US military activity in the region as the US Air Force Central (AFCENT) announced a multi-day readiness exercise in its area of responsibility, aimed at demonstrating its rapid deployment and sustainment capabilities.
Officials in Washington said all options remained on the table regarding Tehran, including the possibility of military action, as the United States and Israel sought to counter Iran’s influence.
Iranian authorities responded by warning that any attack would prompt a “rapid and comprehensive” response.
The air navigation warning will affect civilian and military flights passing through the area during the exercise period. Aviation authorities typically issue NOTAMs before live-fire exercises to alert pilots and airlines of potential risks and temporary airspace closures.
US warships arrive at ME
The aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and several guided-missile destroyers entered the Middle East region, which falls under the U.S. military’s Central Command, the officials said. Reuters.
US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that the United States had an “armada” heading towards Iran, but hoped he would not have to resort to it.
The warships began deploying from the Asia-Pacific region earlier this month, as tensions between Iran and the United States escalated following the crackdown on protests across Iran.
Trump had repeatedly threatened to intervene if Iran continued to kill protesters, but nationwide demonstrations have since diminished. The president said he had been told the killings were decreasing and that he believed there were currently no plans to execute prisoners.
The U.S. military has in the past deployed forces to the Middle East at times of heightened tensions, moves that were often defensive.
However, the U.S. military carried out a major buildup last year ahead of its June strikes against Iran’s nuclear program.
Besides the aircraft carrier and warships, the Pentagon is also sending fighter jets and air defense systems to the Middle East.
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday that “Trump will decide what he decides; the State of Israel will decide what it decides.”
But, he added, if Iran attacks Israel, “we will respond with force that Iran has never seen.”
Iran warns US of attack
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian denounced U.S. “threats” in a call with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, saying they “aim to disrupt the security of the region and will lead to nothing other than instability.”
The United States also maintains several bases in the Middle East, prompting a Revolutionary Guard commander to issue a warning to Iran’s neighbors on Tuesday.
“Neighboring countries are our friends, but if their soil, skies or waters are used against Iran, they will be considered hostile,” Mohammad Akbarzadeh, political deputy of the IRGC naval forces, was quoted as saying by the Fars news agency.
A senior Iranian official said last week that Tehran would view any attack as a “total war against us.”
“This military buildup – we hope it is not intended for a real confrontation – but our army is prepared for the worst-case scenario. That is why everything is on alert in Iran,” said the senior Iranian official, speaking on condition of anonymity.
“This time, we will treat any attack – limited, unlimited, surgical, kinetic, whatever they call it – as an all-out war against us, and we will respond in the toughest way possible to address this,” the official said.
Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have assured Iran that they will not allow their airspace, territory or territorial waters to be used for hostile military actions against the Islamic republic.
The U.S. military air base at Al Dhafra is located south of the UAE capital, Abu Dhabi, and is a critical hub for the U.S. Air Force to support key missions against the Islamic State, as well as reconnaissance deployments in the region.
