Earlier today, we reported of Iran's threat to further escalate if the US were to bring back its aircraft carrier (either CVN74 or any other one) back into the Persian Gulf. Now, the US has just decided to call Iran's bluff. From Bloomberg: CARRIER DEPLOYMENTS IN GULF WILL CONTINUE, U.S. SAYS PENTAGON SAYS NAVY TRANSITS THROUGH STRAIT OF HORMUZ ARE NECESSARY TO SUPPLY U.S. MISSIONS IN GULF REGION U.S. MILITARY MOVEMENTS IN PERSIAN GULF `REGULARLY SCHEDULED' U.S. RESPONDS TO IRAN WARNING AGAINST FUTURE CARRIER MOVES And so the fully-armed grenade is now back in Iran's court. (full story)