WASHINGTON, March 27: The United States navy on Tuesday began its most extensive war-games in the Persian Gulf region since the 2003 invasion of Iraq as experts here warned the Bush administration not to seek a military confrontation with Iran.

“Such a war would then plunge America into a protracted conflict spanning Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan and perhaps also Pakistan,” said Zbigniew Brzezinski, a national security adviser in the Carter administration.

The exercises involve more than 10,000 US troops on warships and aircraft making simulated attacks on enemy shipping with aircraft and ships, hunting enemy submarines and finding mines.

Two aircraft carriers and their strike groups have sailed to the region to join the manoeuvres involving as many as 100 aircraft.

The two groups participating in the exercises are also supporting US military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

But Pentagon officials said the move was not meant to exert pressure on Iran.

Iran warned the US not to launch any attack on its territory.

“If America starts a war against Iran, it won’t be the one who finishes it,” Morteza Saffari, Naval Forces Commander of the Revolutionary Guards, was quoted as saying.