The United States has increased its military footprint in the Middle East, with a second aircraft carrier identified moving towards the region amidst ongoing pressure on Tehran over its military programme and recent domestic protest crackdowns.
The USS Gerald R Ford, the world’s largest warship, was briefly located off the Atlantic coast of Morocco on Wednesday, appearing to be on a course for the Mediterranean Sea, reports BBC.
While the vessel has not yet been confirmed crossing the Strait of Gibraltar, a transport aircraft linked to the carrier was tracked heading towards its last known coordinates on Thursday.
These movements coincide with a statement from President Donald Trump, who suggested that the world will know within “probably, 10 days” whether a diplomatic agreement will be reached with Iran or if military action will be taken.
These remarks follow a second round of discussions between US and Iranian officials in Switzerland, where negotiators reportedly made some progress.
Extensive military deployment
The USS Abraham Lincoln, a nuclear-powered Nimitz-class carrier, was also identified in the Arabian Sea, positioned approximately 240km off the coast of Oman.
This carrier leads a strike group that includes three Arleigh Burke-class destroyers. According to tracking data, there are currently 12 US ships in the region, including two destroyers with long-range missile capabilities and three coastal combat ships stationed in Bahrain. Further destroyers have been observed in the Red Sea and the eastern Mediterranean.
This naval strength is supported by a significant deployment of aircraft to European and Middle Eastern bases, including F-35 and F-22 fighter jets. The fleet also includes E-3 Sentry command and surveillance aircraft, along with KC-135 and KC-46 refuelling tankers.
Iranian and Russian manoeuvres
Tehran has responded with its own display of military strength. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) initiated maritime exercises in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital oil transit point where approximately one-fifth of the world’s oil and gas passes.
IRGC Commander-in-Chief Maj Gen Mohammad Pakpour was seen inspecting naval vessels and conducting a helicopter flyover of Kharg Island, Iran’s primary oil export terminal.
Additionally, Iranian state television reported joint naval drills with Russia in the Gulf of Oman, which featured a simulated rescue operation. The Fars news agency, which has ties to the IRGC, confirmed that units from both the regular Iranian navy and the IRGC navy participated in these manoeuvres.
Strategic depth and deterrence Justin Crump, military intelligence expert and chief executive of the risk firm Sibylline, stated that the current US preparations exhibit more “depth and sustainability” than previous manoeuvres, such as the air strikes on Iranian nuclear sites during “Operation Midnight Hammer” last June.
He said the current build-up would allow the US to maintain an intensive strike rate of approximately 800 sorties per day. He described the deployment as a broad deterrent capable of being scaled to protect US assets and Israel, rather than just preparation for a single strike.
The current configuration more closely mirrors the assets used during Operation Midnight Hammer, which involved two carrier strike groups and land-based fighter squadrons.
