The United States has announced an expansion of its naval and air presence in the Persian Gulf region as tensions rise around Iran. President Donald Trump said a major naval fleet, including the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, is being deployed to monitor the situation. Military sources confirmed that the strike group, equipped with Tomahawk cruise missile–armed Arleigh Burke–class destroyers and Aegis combat systems, is en route to the Middle East from the South China Sea.

The move follows earlier large-scale US military deployments and comes amid renewed friction after incidents involving Iran’s nuclear facilities. A US official said additional air defense systems may be deployed due to potential threats from Iran. Iran’s top military and Revolutionary Guard officials warned that any attack would make all US bases in the region legitimate targets, while its foreign minister threatened retaliation.

The heightened tension has already affected air travel, with some European airlines suspending flights to Dubai and Tel Aviv. The US has also imposed new sanctions on nine ships and their owners for allegedly transporting Iranian oil, as the UN Human Rights Council passed a resolution condemning Iran’s crackdown on protests.