The plan , according to Fars , is a response to the United States beefing up its naval presence in the Persian Gulf . Iran move is meant as a message , a senior Iranian naval official says . `` We have an announcement , not a deployment , '' a U.S. defense official says . The United States has been working with the Iranians to develop and test their own missile defenses in recent years. `` Freedom of the seas does n't just apply to fish , '' U.S. defense official says .
Iran move is meant as a message , a senior Iranian naval official says . `` We have an announcement , not a deployment , '' a U.S. defense official says . The United States has been working with the Iranians to develop and test their own missile defenses in recent years. `` Freedom of the seas does n't just apply to fish , '' U.S. defense official says .