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The United States has warned Iran against engaging in “unsafe and unprofessional” military behavior near American forces as the Iranian government moves forward with live-fire drills in the Strait of Hormuz.

Some shit you should know before you dig in: If you’re unaware, the Strait of Hormuz is one of the most vital maritime chokepoints in the world. Located between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, this narrow waterway, which is only about 21 miles wide at its narrowest point, handles roughly 20% of the world’s petroleum and about a third of all seaborne oil shipments. Every day, an average of roughly 100 oil tankers and merchant vessels pass through it, transporting crude oil from major producers like Saudi Arabia, Iraq, the UAE, and Kuwait to markets in Asia, Europe, and beyond. Iran has repeatedly threatened to close or mine the strait in the event of a military conflict with the United States, a move thatwould send global energy markets into chaos and potentially provoke a major international crisis.

What’s going on now: US Central Command, which oversees all US operations in the Middle East, issued a direct warning to Iran ahead of its announced live-fire naval drills. CENTCOM said that while the US recognizes Iran’s right to operate professionally in international waters, any “unsafe and unprofessional behavior” near US forces, allies, or commercial vessels would increase the risk of collision, escalation, and destabilization. The statement specifically outlined actions the US military will not tolerate, including armed or low-altitude overflights of US vessels, high-speed boat approaches on collision courses, or weapons being pointed toward American forces.

In response, Iranian officials have signaled defiance. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi lashed out at the US in a post on X, calling the CENTCOM statement absurd and accusing Washington of trying to dictate how Iran should conduct exercises in its own region. He argued that the presence of “outside forces” like the US is what fuels escalation, not Iranian military activities.

This all comes as the US is reinforcing its presence in the region. President Donald Trump announced the deployment of what he called a “massive armada,” including the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier, six destroyers, including the USS Delbert D. Black, and multiple combat ships. US officials have described this buildup as a “prudent” move designed to deter Iranian aggression and protect the roughly 30,000 US troops currently stationed in the Middle East.

Amid these rising tensions, Iran is also preparing to hold joint naval exercises with China and Russia in the northern Indian Ocean. These drills, scheduled for mid-February, are part of the “Maritime Security Belt” initiative that began in 2019 and are intended to signal a deepening military alliance between the three countries.