TEHRAN - The Ground Force of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) on Tuesday conducted a hybrid military exercise in southern Iran and on the Persian Gulf islands.

The drill included controlled live-fire operations carried out using a range of weapons and newly adopted combined tactics, while employing modern technologies across multiple operational levels.

The drill comes amid the possibility of a war between the United States and Iran over Tehran’s peaceful nuclear program. The United States has amassed military assets in waters near Iran.

Last week, the IRGC Navy also launched a military exercise dubbed “Smart Control of the Strait of Hormuz” in the strategic waterway.

The Strait of Hormuz is a key waterway that lies between Oman and Iran, and connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea.

The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) has described the strait as the "world's most important oil transit chokepoint."

The combined, live, and targeted exercise was held under the supervision and field monitoring of IRGC chief Major General Mohammad Pakpour.

The main objectives of the naval drill were to assess the operational readiness of IRGC Navy units, review support plans and reciprocal response scenarios, and optimize the strategic use of Iran’s geopolitical advantages in the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman.