WASHINGTON — The Pentagon today answered an Iranian warning to keep U.S. aircraft carriers out of the Persian Gulf by declaring that American warships will continue regularly scheduled deployments to the strategic waterway.

George Little, the Pentagon press secretary, said the Navy operates in the Gulf in accordance with international law and to maintain “a constant state of high vigilance” to ensure the flow of sea commerce.

Earlier Tuesday, Iran’s army chief warned an American aircraft carrier not to return to the Gulf. Iran also has warned it could block one of the world’s key oil tanker sea lanes in response to economic pressures.

Asked whether the U.S. intends to send naval reinforcements to the Gulf in response to Iranian talk of closing the Strait of Hormuz, Little did not answer directly but said, “No one in this government seeks confrontation over the Strait of Hormuz. It’s important to lower the temperature.”

Little reiterated that any closure of the strait would not be tolerated, but he declined to elaborate.