*WASHINGTON – Iran test-fired a short-range anti-ship missile in the Straitof Hormuz during naval drills last week that Washington believes were aimedat sending a message as the United States reimposes sanctions on Tehran, aUS official said on Friday.*

The official, however, did not suggest that such a missile test was unusualduring naval exercises or that it was carried out unsafely, noting itoccurred in what could be described as Iranian territorial waters in theStrait.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards confirmed on Sunday it had held war games inthe Gulf over the past several days, saying they were aimed at “confrontingpossible threats” by enemies.

US Army General Joseph Votel, head of the US military’s Central Command,said earlier this week the scope and scale of the exercises were similar toones Iran had carried out in the past. But the timing of this particularset of exercises was designed to get Washington’s attention.

“It’s pretty clear to us that they were trying to use that exercise to senda message to us that as we approach this period of the sanctions here, thatthey had some capabilities,” Votel told reporters at the Pentagon.

Iran has been furious over US President Donald Trump’s decision to pull outof an international agreement on Iran’s nuclear program and re-imposesanctions on Tehran. Senior Iranian officials have warned the country wouldnot easily yield to a renewed US campaign to strangle Iran’s vital oilexports.

Last month, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei backed PresidentHassan Rouhani’s suggestion that Iran may block Gulf oil exports if its ownexports are stopped.

Votel said the US military was keenly aware of Iran’s military activities.

“We are aware of what’s going on, and we remain ready to protect ourselvesas we pursue our objectives of freedom of navigation and the freedom ofcommerce in international waters,” Votel said.