Acting US Secretary of State Thomas Modley said that Iran might take "provocative measures" in the Strait of Hormuz and elsewhere in the region in the future, despite a period of relative calm.
This American warning coincides with the start of joint military exercises between Iran, Russia and China in the Indian Ocean.
"I think they will continue to take provocative measures ... and I think they will have every opportunity to do so," Moodley told Reuters on Friday, without giving details or a timeframe.
"There is no indication to me that there is a change in the direction of leadership that predicts that they will stop what they were doing ... unless the ruling regime changes there," he added.
Moodley said that US reactions to Iran's actions have distracted the Pentagon out of priorities, such as addressing China.
Today, Saturday, the practical stages of the joint naval exercises between Iran, Russia and China, which were announced yesterday, will start in the Indian Ocean and the Sea of Oman.
Triple naval exercises
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said in a Tweet on Twitter that his country is ready to work with its neighbors to secure marine navigation in the Gulf waters.
He added that the joint exercises with Russia and China in the Indian Ocean confirm Tehran's broader commitment to secure shipping lines and international trade.
On the other hand, the Chinese Ministry of Defense said that these exercises represent a natural exchange aimed at deepening cooperation between the navies of the three countries.
She added that she agreed with international law, and not necessarily linked to the situation in the region, referring to the current tension between Washington and Tehran.
Admiral Ghulam Reza Tahani, the assistant commander of the Iranian Naval Forces for Operations Affairs, announced on Friday morning the launch of these naval exercises in the northern Indian Ocean.
This is the first time that Iran has "carried out joint exercises with the two great naval powers in the world (Russia and China) at this level, and it is certain that the countries closest to each other economically, politically, socially and security work together to provide collective security," Tahhani said. .
He explained that the exercises are varied and include "rescuing ships exposed to fire, freeing ships that are attacked and throwing at specific targets, and all other planned tactical and operational exercises."