Renewing a proposal for a diplomatic settlement, the Bush administration has said two aircraft carrier groups were in the Gulf to reassure friendly governments in the area and not to provoke Iran.
"It remains an area of vital importance to us," Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns said in testimony to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
"We are not there to provoke any military conflict," Burns said.
"Diplomacy is our preferred course of action in blocking and containing the Iranian regime," he said while renewing an offer to hold talks with Iran about its nuclear programme if Iran temporarily suspends uranium enrichment.
The United States would suspend its sanctions against Iran for the same negotiating period, Burns said.
"I do not believe a military confrontation with Iran is either desirable or inevitable," Burns said, "If we continue our skillful diplomatic course and have the patience to see it play out over the long term I am confident we can avoid conflict and see our strategy succeed," he said.
On Tuesday, 15 US warships and more than 100 US aircraft participated in the largest show of force in the Gulf since the US invasion of Iraq in 2003.
"The Gulf is not an Iranian lake," he said.
"We have stationed two carrier battle groups in the Gulf, not to provoke Iran, but to reassure our friends in the region that it remains an area of vital importance to us," Burns said.
American commanders have rejected any suggestion the maneuvers were a direct response to Iran's capture last Friday of 15 British sailors and marines.
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Do you believe these steps by US are not going to provoke Iran?
Do you believe its not preparation for another iraq?