IRGC launches southern drills as US weighs strike options against Iran

TEHRAN, Feb. 25 (YPA) – Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps IRGC ground forces have begun military exercises along Iran’s southern coastline.

According to Iranian state television on Tuesday, the drills came as the United States weighs potential strike options against Iran.

The report said the maneuvers were designed to test newly developed weapons systems and tactical strategies, part of a broader effort to enhance combat readiness and strengthen defensive capabilities.

The developments coincided with renewed rhetoric from Donald Trump, who has raised the possibility of further strikes following the June 2025 conflict. That war was sparked by a surprise Israeli attack, lasted 12 days, and saw U.S. forces join operations that targeted Iranian nuclear facilities.

In recent weeks, Washington has expanded its naval and military presence in the region while continuing to push for an agreement aimed at preventing Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons.

Meanwhile, the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford arrived on Tuesday at the U.S. naval base in Souda Bay on the Greek island of Crete, as part of the ongoing American military buildup.

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