Tehran: Iran staged one of its most expansive missile and naval military exercises in recent years, with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy firing long-range ballistic and cruise missiles at simulated targets across the Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz, and the Sea of Oman. The two-day exercise, which concluded on Friday, showcased a wide array of Iran’s advanced weaponry and combined-force capabilities, underscoring Tehran’s message of military preparedness amid heightened regional tensions.
The IRGC launched multiple classes of missiles, including long-range cruise models such as the Qadr-110, Qadr-360 and Qadr-380, along with the powerful 303 ballistic missile. Iranian state media reported that many of these weapons were fired from deep inside the country, striking maritime targets hundreds of kilometres away with “high accuracy.”
This inland-to-sea capability, military officials said, represents a strategic advantage that would allow Iran to target vessels or bases far beyond its immediate coastline in the event of a conflict.
The drills also incorporated simultaneous drone assaults. Unmanned aerial vehicles attacked mock enemy bases, while air-defense units intercepted simulated hostile aircraft. Naval vessels executed offensive and defensive manoeuvres, forming a coordinated multi-domain operation across land, sea, and air.
The exercise comes months after a brief but intense confrontation between Iran and Israel earlier in the year, during which Israeli forces reportedly supported by U.S. operational assets struck Iranian military and nuclear-related facilities. In that context, these drills serve as a strong reminder that Iran’s missile infrastructure and retaliatory capabilities remain robust.
Tehran’s timing is deliberate: with regional rivalries sharpening, the IRGC’s public demonstration of its missile accuracy, range, and saturation-fire potential sends a strategic message to adversaries. Iranian commanders reiterated that any “miscalculation” by enemy states would trigger a rapid and forceful response from the country’s defense forces.
A significant part of the exercise took place around the Strait of Hormuz a vital chokepoint through which nearly one-fifth of the world’s oil exports pass. By conducting missile strikes and naval formations in this area, Iran signaled its capacity to influence, or potentially disrupt, global energy routes during a crisis.
Naval analysts noted that Iran’s display of coastal-to-sea strike power enhances its deterrence strategy. Any conflict in the region would inevitably draw attention to this narrow waterway, making Iran’s preparedness a key variable in regional security calculations.
At the same time as the naval drills in the south, Iran hosted a separate anti-terrorism exercise in its northwestern East Azerbaijan Province. This ground operation included participation from members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), signaling Iran’s intent to strengthen military cooperation with Asian partners.
Iran framed the dual nature of the drills a show of force in the south, and collaborative security operations in the north as part of a broader strategy of balancing deterrence with diplomacy. Officials emphasized that while Iran is ready to counter military threats, it is also committed to regional stability through partnerships.
Defense experts observing the drills noted that the combination of ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, drones, electronic-warfare systems, and air-defense units marks a shift toward modern, multi-domain warfare capabilities. Such complexity increases the risks associated with any regional escalation, as potential confrontations would involve layered operational theatres.
The demonstration also raises concerns among Gulf nations and Western navies that regularly patrol the region. With global energy shipments passing through waters now central to Iran’s drills, the exercises may prompt further surveillance, naval deployments, and counter-readiness measures from other countries.
The conclusion of the drills leaves the region on alert. Whether Iran continues with more frequent missile tests or pivots toward diplomatic engagements will determine the trajectory of regional stability in the coming months. For now, Tehran has made its stance clear: its defense forces remain prepared, and its missile programme continues to advance despite international pressure.