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On paper, they could back it up:
List of current ships of the Iranian Navy - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
They have 3 British-built Vosper Mk5 type Frigates (small warships) and 1 Iranian copy (a second copy is due to be launched in 2012) for a total of four. These would certainly be blue-water ships. They have 2 corvettes (smaller than Frigates) that may or may not be capable of blue-water operations. Corvettes are almost always used for coastal patrol. Their greatest threat are 3 Kilo-class, ex-soviet subs. These can definitely make it across an ocean. But they are very old. Most, if not all, of Russia's Kilos are swinging at anchor, unable to move. Russia cannot afford to keep them maintained so who can say about Iran?
The rest of Iran's "navy" are patrol boats that cannot make trans-oceanic journeys.
Theoretically, Iran could send 9 ships to the US. But there are complications. Iran has no UNREP (Underway Replenishment) capability like the USN does. They would need to find friendly ports along the way to take on provisions. Hugo Chavez would almost certainly help. Cuba might, it's hard to say. US relations with Cuba have been "polite" if not friendly. At the height of his power Castro would've helped for certain. Since taking over for his brother Fidel, Raul may want to maintain cordial relations with the US and refuse a port for Iran.
Fuel is not the main problem for Iran. Water and food for the crews are the biggest problems for ocean-going ships. Iran's navy isn't used to such long-range voyages. Also, making that trip during hurricane season would be a major eye-opener for them. I expect their crews have never experienced the power of an angry Atlantic.
Iran would be lucky to make it whole distance. And they could "show the flag" for propaganda purposes, but their violently seasick, starved, and dehydrated crews would be in no shape to fight a Cub Scout Row Boat Club, much less the United States Navy.
Yeah, that's pretty much what I was getting at. You nailed it.