(Image source: Press TV)

BY NICOLE THOMPSON
ANCHOR CHRISTINA HARTMAN

You're watching multisource global video news analysis from Newsy.

The U.S. East Coast could be getting some visitors from Iran. State-run Islamic Republic News Agency reports the Middle East nation may deploy naval ships to the states. MSNBC’s Willie Geist has the details.

“A top official in the Iranian Navy raised the prospect yesterday of sending his country’s warships close to the east coast of the United States. The rear admiral was quoted by Iranian media as saying, quote, like the arrogant powers that are present near our maritime borders, we will also have a powerful presence close to American marine borders.”

Some say the move is in response to the U.S. Navy’s presence in the Persian Gulf. An Iranian military official tells the Tehran Times...

“In the view of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the illegitimate presence of the U.S. in the Persian Gulf makes no sense.”

Security concerns top the list of discussion points. The International Business Times questions whether this move could lead to a military standoff.

“Iran also said Wednesday that it has started a large-scale development of new cruise missiles designed specifically to ‘sink giant warships’... the ever-present and increasing tension between Iran and the United States is being watched by the whole world.”

But CNN’s Barbara Starr says Pentagon officials aren’t talking it so seriously, suggesting Iran might not have thought this operation through.

“I got some rolling eyeballs when they were talking about this announcement by Iran... Earlier this year, they sent some ships through the Suez Canal into the Mediterranean. That’s about the furthest they’ve ever gone. So if they want to do this, the reaction here at the Pentagon is have at it, but it’s going to cost you money, it’s going to cost you a lot, and is it what you really want to do?”

And a retired U.S. Navy Commander tells Fox News Iran is just trying to flex some muscle. Nothing to worry about.

“There’s no military threat from a few naval ships that come and visit our part of the world. And because there are international waters, there’s no reason that they can’t do that, if that’s what they want to do. This is really political grandstanding. This is a way to try to influence world opinion that Iran is a force to be reckoned with and has to be recognized.”

Transcript by Newsy.