Report: Iran Threatens to Deploy Navy Off U.S. Coast

Reuters is reporting that Iran has raised the possibility of sending Iranian warships close enough to U.S. shores to ratchet up tensions.

According to the official IRNA news agency, Iranian naval chief Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari said:

"Like the arrogant powers that are present near our marine borders, we will also have a powerful presence close to American marine borders."

Sayyari was speaking at a ceremony marking the 31st anniversary of the start of the 1980-1988 war with Iraq. He didn't elaborate on the scale or timing of the possible naval deployment.

This Iranian saber-rattling comes on the heels of other recent provocations, including the passage of Iranian warships through the Suez Canal a few months ago, which marked the first time the Islamic Republic of Iran has ever deployed warships to the Mediterranean.

Also, Iran finally released two American hikers last week, after convicting them of espionage charges and holding them in prison for 781 days. The hikers have always maintained their innocence.