Washington / Tehran – A United States naval strike force led by an aircraft carrier has entered Middle Eastern waters, escalating tensions with Iran as Tehran warns it will retaliate against any military action and President Donald Trump insists the Islamic Republic still seeks negotiations.
The US Central Command confirmed on Tuesday that a strike group led by the USS Abraham Lincoln has arrived in the region, though its exact location was not disclosed. The deployment comes amid growing international concern over Iran’s violent crackdown on nationwide protests.
Washington has not ruled out fresh military intervention against Tehran, following reports from rights groups that thousands of protesters were killed within days after demonstrations erupted earlier this month. The unrest was accompanied by a near-total internet blackout inside Iran.
President Trump has sent mixed signals on possible intervention. While some Iranian opposition figures believe foreign military action is the only path to change, Trump has suggested Tehran is still open to talks.
“We have a big armada next to Iran. Bigger than Venezuela,” Trump told Axios, referencing past US military action abroad.
“But they want to make a deal. I know so. They’ve called on numerous occasions. They want to talk.”
Trump declined to disclose which military options have been presented to him by his national security team.
According to analysts, those options range from limited strikes on military installations to targeted attacks on Iran’s leadership, including figures close to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in a broader attempt to dismantle the ruling system established after the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
The New York Times reported that Trump has received multiple intelligence briefings indicating Iran’s government is at its weakest point since the fall of the shah. US Senator Lindsey Graham was quoted as saying the ultimate objective is regime change.
“They may stop killing them today, but if they’re in charge next month, they’ll kill them then,” Graham said.
Iranian officials have responded with sharp warnings. Revolutionary Guards spokesman Mohammad Ali Naini said any US aircraft carrier entering Iranian territorial waters would be targeted. Conservative newspaper Javan reported that Iran is prepared for a “major response,” including the possible closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for global energy supplies.
An anti-US billboard has also appeared in Tehran, depicting an American aircraft carrier being destroyed.
Meanwhile, human rights organizations say Iran’s crackdown on protests is the deadliest in the country’s history. The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) said it has confirmed 6,126 deaths, including protesters, minors, security personnel and bystanders, while investigations continue into more than 17,000 additional possible fatalities. At least 41,880 people have reportedly been arrested.
Rights groups accuse Iranian security forces of mass arrests, intimidation, and attempts to control information, including alleged raids on hospitals to arrest injured protesters.
Despite the heightened rhetoric, Iranian officials say a communication channel remains open between Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and US envoy Steve Witkoff, even though both countries lack formal diplomatic relations.
As military assets move closer and warnings intensify, analysts say the coming weeks could prove decisive for both Iran’s leadership and US policy in the region.
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