Iran missiles can easily hit US warships in the Gulf  

Iran said on Friday it could “easily” hit U.S. warships in the Gulf, the latest in days of saber rattling between Washington and Tehran, while its top diplomat worked to counter U.S. sanctions and salvage a nuclear deal denounced by President Donald Trump.

Tensions have risen in recent days, with concerns about a potential U.S.-Iran conflict. Earlier this week, the United States pulled some diplomatic staff from its embassy in Baghdad following weekend attacks on four oil tankers in the Gulf.

Iranian missiles, even short-range ones, can “easily” strike U.S. warships deployed in the Persian Gulf, Mohamed Saleh Jokar, deputy head of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Corps, said Friday.

“America cannot afford the costs of a new war, and the country is in a bad situation in terms of manpower and social conditions,” he added.

Earlier this week, the U.S. deployed an aircraft carrier strike group to the Gulf, citing intelligence of a possible Iranian attack on U.S. interests in the region.

On Thursday, the New York Times cited intelligence sources as saying that Iran had recently deployed military vessels -- armed with missile-launchers -- in the Gulf, raising fears of possible conflict.

On Monday, U.S. warplanes conducted maneuvers over the Gulf in what was widely seen as a message directed at Iran.

Washington has increased economic sanctions and built up its military presence in the region, accusing Iran of threats to U.S. troops and interests. Tehran has described those steps as “psychological warfare” and a “political game”.

In Washington, a senior administration official said the United States is “sitting by the phone” but has heard no message yet from Iran that it is willing to accept Trump’s overtures for direct talks.

“We think they should de-escalate and come to negotiations,” the official, who declined to be identified, told a small group of reporters.

Trump has urged Iran’s leadership to hold talks over its nuclear program and regional influence amid rising tensions between the two countries that has fanned fears of armed conflict after the United States deployed an aircraft carrier group to the region.