Iran Tests Advanced Weaponry in Persian Gulf Drills as U.S. Navy Ship Faces Sewage Crisis

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is conducting military exercises while the USS Gerald R. Ford battles low morale and operational issues.

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has been holding military drills testing advanced weaponry on the country's southern coast in the Persian Gulf, according to reports. This comes as the U.S. Navy's USS Gerald R. Ford, the world's largest warship, is struggling to make its way to the Middle East amid a sewage crisis and low morale among the soldiers who have been stuck on the ship for 8 months.

Why it matters

The military exercises by Iran's IRGC come at a time of heightened tensions in the region, with the U.S. continuing to send additional assets to the area. Meanwhile, the issues plaguing the USS Gerald R. Ford raise concerns about the U.S. military's readiness and ability to effectively respond to potential conflicts in the Persian Gulf.

The details

Iran's IRGC has been testing a range of advanced weaponry, including missiles and drones, during the military drills on the country's southern coast. This is seen as a show of force amid the ongoing tensions with the U.S. and its regional allies. At the same time, the USS Gerald R. Ford, the U.S. Navy's newest and most advanced aircraft carrier, has been facing a sewage crisis and low morale among its crew, who have been stuck on the ship for 8 months.

  • The IRGC military drills in the Persian Gulf are ongoing.
  • The USS Gerald R. Ford has been deployed to the Middle East for the past 8 months.

The players

Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)

Iran's elite military force responsible for the country's ballistic missile program and foreign operations.

USS Gerald R. Ford

The U.S. Navy's newest and most advanced aircraft carrier, which is currently deployed to the Middle East.

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What they’re saying

“While President Trump claims a war against Iran would be 'easily won,' reports say the USS Gerald R Ford is struggling to make its way to the Middle East, amid a sewage crisis and increasingly low morale among the soldiers who have been stuck on the world's largest warship for 8 months and counting.”

— Rachel Blevins, Author (substack.com)

The takeaway

The ongoing military exercises by Iran's IRGC and the operational issues faced by the USS Gerald R. Ford highlight the complex and volatile situation in the Persian Gulf region, where the U.S. and its allies continue to confront Iran's growing military capabilities and influence.