Iran has joined forces with Russia for a new round of naval exercises in the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf of Oman, even as the Trump administration has urged Tehran that it would be “very wise” to reach an agreement with Washington.

The joint maneuvers, which have been conducted annually since 2019, come at a particularly tense moment. This year’s drills coincide with an expanding US military presence in the region and growing speculation that American strikes could be under consideration.

According to RadioFreeEurope, Iranian navy Rear Adm. Hassan Maqsudlu said the exercises are meant to “prevent any unilateral action in the region.”

The maritime show of force follows warnings from the White House that military action remains on the table. Officials have indicated that “there are many reasons one could make for a strike against Iran.”

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt reiterated that diplomacy remains Washington’s preferred path but stressed that Tehran should take the opportunity seriously. “The president has been very clear with respect to Iran or any country around the world, diplomacy is always his first option,” she told reporters Wednesday.

“Iran would be very wise to make a deal with President Trump and with this administration.”

Earlier in the week, Iran temporarily shut portions of the Strait of Hormuz — a narrow waterway through which roughly 20 percent of global seaborne oil shipments pass each year — as part of its military activity in the area.

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has also issued pointed remarks directed at Washington, suggesting that Iran possesses the capability to destroy US naval vessels operating nearby. “Of course, a warship is a dangerous piece of military hardware. However, more dangerous than that warship is the weapon that can send that warship to the bottom of the sea,” Khamenei posted on X.

In response to the escalating tensions, the United States has deployed the USS Gerald R. Ford — the largest aircraft carrier in the world — to the Middle East. It will operate alongside the USS Abraham Lincoln and other naval assets already stationed in the region.

President Trump has publicly floated the prospect of regime change in Iran. When asked whether the United States might once again target Iranian nuclear facilities, he responded, “If we do it, that would be the least of the mission.”

According to CNN, US military plans for a potential strike on Iran could be executed as soon as this weekend. It remains uncertain whether Trump has made a final decision, with a source close to him saying he “is spending a lot of time thinking about this.”

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), a close ally of the president, suggested that the visible military buildup signals seriousness. “The decision hadn’t been made, but all these ships are not coming here because it’s nice this time of year,” he told Sky News Arabia.

Meanwhile, diplomatic channels remain open. American and Iranian representatives met Tuesday in Geneva for a second round of negotiations. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi described the discussions as showing “good progress,” and US officials also expressed cautious optimism.

Even so, Leavitt acknowledged that the two sides are still “very far apart on some issues” as talks continue over Iran’s nuclear activities.

Senior Iranian officials have indicated publicly that Tehran may be willing to consider adjustments to its nuclear program. However, the Trump administration has signaled that any agreement would also need to address Iran’s ballistic missile capabilities and its backing of armed proxy groups across the Middle East.

Iranian naval officer Mohammad Parsi characterized Russia’s role in the recent exercises as limited. He described Moscow’s participation as “small” and “symbolic,” according to RadioFreeEurope.

“I cannot imagine Russia offering real support in a direct confrontation between Iran and the United States,” Parsi said, suggesting that the Kremlin is using Tehran as “leverage” in its broader dealings with Western nations.

In recent years, Russia has faced mounting challenges, particularly as it remains deeply engaged in its war in Ukraine. Observers have noted Moscow’s limited response when allied governments came under pressure, including during last year’s 12-day conflict between Iran and Israel, the detention of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, and the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria.

Ukraine, despite lacking a conventional navy, has claimed responsibility for crippling at least one-third of Russia’s Black Sea fleet, underscoring the strains on Moscow’s military capacity as it navigates multiple geopolitical flashpoints.