Are the US drills in the Persian Gulf a provocation?

A round-table discussion on the situation in and around Iran. From May 6 to May 30 the U. S. is planning to hold in the Persian Gulf military exercises for mine clearance and the protection of the marine infrastructure involving more than 30 countries. According to the press service of the 5th Fleet of the U.S. Navy, based in Bahrain, in the course of the exercises "a wide range of defensive operations to protect the international (maritime) trade" will be practiced. Part 1