The drills came after the US sent a carrier battle group in the area last month. US officials made threats to sail the fleet into the Persian Gulf, claiming its deployment was in response to an alleged Iranian threat on Washington’s interests in the region. The US Air Force said that the the USS Abraham Lincoln, multiple fighter jets and helicopters, and a B-52 strategic bomber carried out the exercise.
The mission took place in the Arabian Sea.
In a statement, the force added that the “simulated strike operations” were aid by the B-52, which is a nuclear-capable bomber.
Addressing a news conference on Sunday, the US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Washington was still willing to speak with Iran “with no preconditions”.
However, Iran claimed the offer was just “word-play”.
READ MORE: Iran orders US to ‘show some RESPECT’
Mr Pompeo said: “We are prepared to engage in a conversation with no preconditions.
“We are ready to sit down with them.
“The American effort to fundamentally reverse the malign activity of this Islamic Republic, this revolutionary force, is going to continue.”
Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi responded: “The Islamic Republic of Iran does not pay attention to word-play and expression of hidden agenda in new forms.”
Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani suggested on Saturday that Iran may be willing to hold talks if Washington showed it respect, but said Tehran would not be pressured into talks.
Mr Trump said last Monday he was hopeful Iran would come to the negotiating table.
But Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Wednesday Tehran would not negotiate with Washington, even after Mr Rouhani had previously signalled talks might be possible if sanctions were lifted.
Meanwhile, a quarterly report by the International Atomic Energy Association (IAEA) suggested Iran has stayed within the main restrictions of its 2015 nuclear deal.