Pentagon: US Navy will remain in Gulf
US responds to Iranian warning to keep aircraft carriers out of Persian Gulf, but stresses it does not seek confrontation
The Pentagon on Tuesday answered an Iranian warning to keep US aircraft carriers out of the Persian Gulf by declaring that American warships will continue regularly scheduled deployments to the strategic waterway.
George Little, the Pentagon press secretary, said the Navy operates in the Gulf in accordance with international law and to maintain "a constant state of high vigilance" to ensure the flow of sea commerce.
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Meanwhile, the White House said Iran's threat to take action if a US aircraft carrier moves into the Gulf showed Tehran was increasingly isolated internationally, faced economic problems from to sanctions and wants to divert attention from its deepening problems.
"It reflects the fact that Iran is in a position of weakness," White House spokesman Jay Carney told reporters.
Earlier Tuesday, Iran's army chief warned an American aircraft carrier not to return to the Gulf.
The US Navy has said the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis and another vessel left the Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz a week ago. Iran has been holding naval exercises near the Strait at the mouth of the Gulf, which is a critically important passage for international oil supplies.
"The deployment of US military assets in the Persian Gulf region will continue as it has for decades," Little said in a written statement. "These are regularly scheduled movements in accordance with our longstanding commitments to the security and stability of the region and in support of ongoing operations."
The US Navy 5th Fleet has long been headquartered in the Gulf state of Bahrain.
'US not seeking confrontation'
Asked whether the US intends to send naval reinforcements to the Gulf in response to Iranian talk of closing the Strait of Hormuz, Little did not answer directly but said, "No one in this government seeks confrontation over the Strait of Hormuz. It's important to lower the temperature."
Little reiterated that any closure of the strait would not be tolerated, but he declined to elaborate.
On Monday Iran test-fired a surface-to-surface cruise missile as part of its naval maneuvers in the Gulf, prompting Iran's navy chief to boast that the strait is "completely under our control."
Asked about the significance of the missile test, Little said, "We are aware of reports of missile tests that are apparently tied to Iranian naval exercises that began in late December. They have the right to conduct exercises. The United States believes that the Iranian regime should devote its energy and resources to establishing friendly relations with countries in the Gulf region."
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