Here’s what I think is happening.
He’s using reverse psychology on obama. He’s got a bet with his buddies that he can get a US carrier to stop where he wants it. Knowing the obama is a narcissistic mental retard, who is up against a wall to look like hes large and in charge, he throws this threat out, in the hopes that obama will get on the phone and tell the carrier group to do just that...to show them “he’s not afraid”.
When it happens, the Iranians will get a big yuck, the AF commander wins his bet, and the international community see’s what a pansy-a***d light weight obama is...again.
My take is that they are seeing if Obama will kowtow on this and if so escalate to see how far they can push him.