Iran’s Fars News Agency announced on Tuesday the planned closure of parts of the Strait of Hormuz for several hours as a precautionary measure to ensure navigational safety, coinciding with military exercises conducted by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in the strait. The IRGC also announced the start of the main phase of its naval maneuvers, as part of the “Smart Control of the Strait of Hormuz” exercise. The naval commander, Ali Reza Tangsiri, said that his forces are capable of closing the strait in the shortest possible time, should the decision be made. This comes amidst the conclusion of the second round of negotiations between Washington and Tehran. From now on, we will continue to follow the path that began on the basis of the agreed principles.

Source: Egypt Independent February 18, 2026 13:14 UTC