* Revolutionary Guards official plays down US naval moves
* Appears to back away from previous threats to Washington
* Tensions high over new sanctions and nuclear activities (Adds background)
Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said on Saturday it considered the deployment of U.S. warships to the Gulf part of their routine activity, apparently backing away from previous warnings to Washington not to enter the area.
"U.S. warships and military forces have been in the Persian Gulf and the Middle East region for many years and their decision in relation to the despatch of a new warship is not a new issue and it should be interpreted as part of their permanent presence," IRGC Deputy Commander Hossein Salami told the official IRNA news agency.
The comment may be seen as an effort to reduce tensions that rose sharply this month when Iran threatened to block the Strait of Hormuz - the vital shipping lane for oil shipments out of the Gulf - if new sanctions hit its crude exports.
US Navy added another strike group to the gulf on Thursday after Iranian threats.
* Appears to back away from previous threats to Washington
* Tensions high over new sanctions and nuclear activities (Adds background)
Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said on Saturday it considered the deployment of U.S. warships to the Gulf part of their routine activity, apparently backing away from previous warnings to Washington not to enter the area.
"U.S. warships and military forces have been in the Persian Gulf and the Middle East region for many years and their decision in relation to the despatch of a new warship is not a new issue and it should be interpreted as part of their permanent presence," IRGC Deputy Commander Hossein Salami told the official IRNA news agency.
The comment may be seen as an effort to reduce tensions that rose sharply this month when Iran threatened to block the Strait of Hormuz - the vital shipping lane for oil shipments out of the Gulf - if new sanctions hit its crude exports.
US Navy added another strike group to the gulf on Thursday after Iranian threats.
