An Iranian official on Sunday denied that the country had any plans to carry out live-fire exercises in the Strait of Hormuz this week, amid sky-high tensions in the region.

Speaking to Reuters, an Iranian official denied ever planning such exercises, although Iran’s state-run Press TV reported on Thursday that the Islamic Revolutionary Guards’ naval forces would hold the drill on Sunday and Monday.

“There was no plan for the Guards to hold military exercises there and there was no official announcement about it. Only media reports which were wrong,” the official said.

On Friday, the US military issued a statement warning Iran against carrying out such exercises and urging it to avoid “unnecessary risk.”

“US Central Command (CENTCOM) urges the IRGC to conduct the announced naval exercise in a manner that is safe, professional and avoids unnecessary risk to freedom of navigation for international maritime traffic,” the statement read. “The Strait of Hormuz is an international sea passage and an essential trade corridor that supports regional........

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