"We reject any notion that suggests that we are ratcheting up the language in terms of trying to prepare to go to war with Iran. That is certainly not the case," White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said at a news briefing.

The reiteration by the White House occurred at the time when US aircraft carrier Nimitz and its support ships are leaving for the Persian Gulf to join another aircraft carrier strike group already in that region.

Last week, Perino said the United States is not escalating tensions with Iran and insisted that its naval exercises in the Gulf has been long planned.