TEHRAN (AP) — Iran aims to put its warships in international waters off the U.S. coast “in the next few years,” the head of the Iranian navy said Tuesday.

The comments from Adm. Habibollah Sayyari on state TV were part of Iran‘s response to Washington’s beefed-up naval presence in the Persian Gulf.

The U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet is based in Bahrain — across the Gulf from Iran — and the U.S. plans maritime war games later this month.

Iran has made similar claims in the past that its ships could soon sail into international waters off the U.S. coast.

Tehran and Washington have been at odds over Tehran’s nuclear ambitions, which, the West suspects, include nuclear weapons. Iran denies the charge.