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Iran to Close Strait of Hormuz for Military Exercises

Published February 17, 2026, 14:17
Iran to Close Strait of Hormuz for Military Exercises

Iran announced that it will close the Strait of Hormuz for a few hours today due to military exercises conducted by the Revolutionary Guards. The Strait of Hormuz is a critical route for oil exports from the Gulf. The move comes shortly before US-Iran talks in Geneva. Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei addressed messages to Donald Trump, stating that the US has failed to destroy the Islamic Republic for 47 years and will never succeed. He stressed that the strongest army in the world could receive a blow it would not be able to withstand. Khamenei stated that Iran possesses weapons capable of sinking US aircraft carriers, responding to Trump's statements about the strength of the US military. The announcement of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and Khamenei's statements heighten tensions in the region.