Iran flexes military muscle as Trump’s return looms over Middle East

Iran has increased its military exercises significantly, conducting nearly twice as many drills as previous years, amid growing regional tensions and Donald Trump’s imminent return to the White House.

According to the Financial Times, about 30 land, air and maritime exercises have started across six western and southern provinces in Iran, and are scheduled to continue until mid-March. The drills represent a joint operation between Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and its regular army.

Spokesperson for the IRGC Brigadier General Ali Mohammad Naeini told the FT that, “The number of drills has almost doubled this year compared with last year, in response to the evolving threat landscape.” He added that these exercises are “significantly larger in scope and sophistication, featuring new weaponry and expanded participation of brigades engaged in realistic operations.”

The timing of these enhanced military manoeuvres coincides with Trump’s inauguration on 20 January. During his previous administration, the president-elect pursued a “maximum pressure” campaign against Tehran, imposed new sanctions and withdrew from the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPA) nuclear deal, all of which had a significant impact on Iran’s economy. Trump’s team has already indicated its intention to resume this hard-line approach.

The exercises include operations near the crucial Natanz nuclear facility and in the strategic Strait of Hormuz, through which one-third of global oil supplies pass. These locations carry particular significance given Iran’s historical suggestions about potentially restricting oil flow through the strait in response to sanctions.

Iran’s military escalation comes amid perceptions of its weakened regional position following several strategic setbacks. The unexpected collapse of Bashar Al-Assad’s regime in Syria has disrupted Iran’s ability to support Hezbollah, while recent Israeli aggression has seen direct exchanges of fire between Iran and the apartheid state for the first time.

Addressing these concerns, Naeini dismissed suggestions of Iranian weakness. “The enemy is displaying false enthusiasm while misinterpreting the situation, trying to portray the Islamic Republic as weakened,” he explained. “Iran has been preparing for complex, large-scale conflicts and remains confident in its deterrent capabilities.”

The exercises will culminate in a demonstration of force with 100,000 members of the Revolutionary Guard Corps’ voluntary Basij militia marching in Tehran. While projecting strength, Naeini maintained a defensive posture, asserting that, “The Islamic Republic will not initiate any war in the region, but will respond decisively to any threats.”

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