The United States is preparing to deploy the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt to the Middle East amid its continuing war against Iran. The carrier is expected to remain deployed in the region for more than seven months, according to the US Naval Institute.

US Navy chief Admiral Daryl Caudle and Master Chief Petty Officer John Perryman told reporters on Wednesday that the Theodore Roosevelt would deploy with its accompanying warships and Carrier Air Wing 11. The announcement outlines a planned shift in the US naval presence in the region.

The Theodore Roosevelt and its accompanying forces will replace the Japan-based USS George Washington, which is currently deployed in the Middle East. The George Washington entered the area under the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet last week, according to the report.