Faced with calls from Iran warning them to stop sending warships through the Persian Gulf, the Obama Administration today insisted that warships would indeed remain in the Persian Gulf. The White House also claimed Tehran’s protestation was a sign of weakness as well as proof that the sanctions were really damaging Iran’s economy.
White House Press Secretary Jay Carney insisted it was “confirmation that Tehran is under increasing pressure” and that complaining about the growing US naval presence was just an effort to distract people from their “domestic problems.”
Iran was particularly annoyed by the deployment of a US nuclear aircraft carrier off its coast. The ship recently left and is said to have gone to the United Arab Emirates. The deployment in the area has become increasingly controversial in the face of constant US threats to attack.
Pentagon spokesman George Little also confirmed that the warships would remain off Iran’s coast, saying it was “necessary to maintain the continuity and operational support to ongoing missions.”
