Americas

Americas

US warship outside Persian Gulf amid Iran nuclear talks: Report

14 February 2014 00:54 (UTC +04:00)

The nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman, which is the only US warship in the region, “has spent more time outside the Persian Gulf in the last six months than inside it,” according to a report by The Hill.

American officials’ public data estimated the days the warship has been in the Persian Gulf, the newspaper reported.

“From August 2013 to January 2014, the Truman spent roughly 101 days inside the Gulf of Oman and the North Arabian Sea, and only about 45 days inside the Persian Gulf, not including approximately 11 days spent transiting between or in unknown locations,” the report said.

This is while the aircraft carrier was in the region along with another carrier during the same period last year.

However, the Pentagon says the number of aircraft carriers does not show US presence and the US Navy has increased the number of smaller coastal patrol ships and.

A Navy official speaking on background acknowledged the Navy works to defuse tensions in the region.

“Our goal out here is to do everything we can to prevent miscalculations, and not pressurize a situation that could easily be pressurized,” the official said. “We’re doing a lot out there... it’s not just this stare-down across the way with the Iranians.”

Iran and world powers reached an interim nuclear accord in November 2013 and the two sides are working to complete a final deal.