Iran's army chief told the United States that a US aircraft carrier which left the area because of Iranian naval exercises should not return to the Gulf, the state news agency reported on Tuesday.

Ataollah Salehi said Iran would take action if the aircraft carrier returned to the Gulf, the semi-official Fars news agency reported.

"....the enemy's carrier has been moved to the Sea of Oman because of our drill. I advise, recommend and warn them (the Americans) over the return of this carrier to the Persian Gulf because we are not in the habit of warning more than once," Fars quoted Salehi as saying.  - Reuters