The military showdown between the United States and Iran could all be a big misunderstanding, at least according to one analysis.

The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday that one government analysis of the rising tensions between the two countries could be due to Iran thinking the U.S. was about to attack it, which prompted the Middle Eastern nation to make some military moves — which, in turn, caused the White House to send an armada of ships to the Persian Gulf region to deal with the perceived threat.

The U.S. also pulled some diplomats from its Baghdad embassy.

The White House has ramped up American defenses against Iran in recent weeks after a threat was detected that was serious enough to warrant an aircraft carrier and several ships to be sent steaming toward the Middle East. Some reports suggest Iran had been moving missiles by boat, and others say there was a threat against U.S. personnel in the Middle East.

Congressional leaders received a classified briefing on the Iran situation Thursday.

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