In an act of defiance and for internal consumption, Iran has sent several warships to the Atlantic Ocean, close to U.S. maritime borders, the Associated Press reported a senior Iranian naval commander as saying Saturday.

The vessels have already begun the journey to the Atlantic Ocean via waters near South Africa.

Iranian regime’s officials said last month that the fleet consisted of a destroyer and a logistic helicopter carrier, which will be on a three-month mission.

According to Haddad, the commander of Iran’s Northern Navy Fleet, the fleet is approaching U.S. maritime borders for the first time.

Some say the fleet is the Islamic Republic’s rseponse to U.S. naval deployments near its own coastlines The U.S. Navy’s 5th fleet is based in nearby Bahrain.