Rep. Jeff Van Drew told the Pentagon on Thursday to put up or shut up after a military spokeswoman dismissed his claim that the drones swarming over New Jersey are Iranian in origin.

Mr. Van Drew had shocked Fox News viewers with his claim that a “mothership” floating off the coast was launching the drones. He said his information came from well-placed sources with high security clearances and said it was the best explanation for the sophisticated nature and curious flight paths of the drones.

On Wednesday, he had said the mothership was Iranian, but on Thursday, again speaking on Fox News, he said it could be China too. What he did feel is that it isn’t a hobbyist or a U.S.-based agency.

“We don’t even have this level of sophistication yet,” said Mr. Van Drew, a Republican who represents New Jersey’s southern tip.

The drones have captivated Americans and angered lawmakers, who are dismayed at the lack of answers despite a month of unexplained activity.

After Mr. Van Drew’s Iran claims, the Pentagon said there was no mothership and no foreign threat.

“We have no evidence that these activities are coming from a foreign entity or the work of an adversary,” spokeswoman Sabrina Singh said.

“There’s no so-called mothership,” she said.

She also said the drones were not being operated by the U.S. military.

Mr. Van Drew doubled down on his boat claim, saying the drones were flying in from the coast, so there had to be a launch site out there.

“These drones very well could be launched from a ship. It could be hundreds of miles out at sea,” he said.

As for the operators, he said on Thursday that China is as much a possibility as Iran.

“I’m not saying it’s definite, but it’s something that needs to be explored,” he said.

The lack of firm answers is enraging lawmakers who have demanded someone bring down one of the drones to see what’s going on.

• Stephen Dinan can be reached at sdinan@washingtontimes.com.