The USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier has arrived in the Middle East and is now reportedly within "striking distance" of Iran, according to Israel's Channel 13. The deployment follows US President Donald Trump's warning that a US "armada" is heading towards the region amid escalating tensions over Iran's deadly crackdown on protesters.
Iran responded with sharp warnings. General Mohammad Pakpour, commander of Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, told the Iranian outlet Nournews on Saturday: «The Islamic Revolutionary Guards and dear Iran stand more ready than ever, finger on the trigger, to execute the orders and directives of the Commander-in-Chief.» Iran International reported that Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has been moved to a secure underground shelter in Tehran.
A new mural unveiled in central Tehran's Enghelab Square on Saturday visually reinforces Iran's warning. The artwork depicts a damaged aircraft carrier and carries the message: «If you sow the wind, you will reap the whirlwind.»
Deadly crackdown triggers crisis
The escalation comes as Iran faces mounting international criticism over its violent suppression of protests triggered by the collapse of the country's currency last month. The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency reported on Friday that more than 5,002 people have been killed in the government crackdown, including 4,716 demonstrators and 43 children.
The Iranian government has reported a significantly lower death toll of 3,117. An internet blackout lasting over two weeks has made independent verification difficult.
Trump signals military readiness
Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on Thursday: «We have a lot of ships going that direction, just in case … I'd rather not see anything happen, but we're watching them very closely.» He described the situation to CNBC as a «prelude to further action,» adding: «Well, we hope there's not going to be further action, but, you know, they're shooting people indiscriminately in the streets.»
The USS Abraham Lincoln and its Carrier Strike Group had been operating in the South China Sea until last week, having left San Diego in late November. The deployment includes guided-missile destroyers, submarines armed with Tomahawk missiles, and F-15 fighter jets stationed at US bases in the region, including Jordan.
Trump has also ordered 25 additional B-2 bombers. Last June, he ordered the bombing of three Iranian nuclear sites using B-2 bombers. He praised their effectiveness: «They were unbelievable, those things, that they were totally undetectable...with no moon, in the dark of night, late in the evening, every single one of those bombs, and they're giants, every single one of those bombs hit its targets and just obliterated the place.»
Note: This article was created with Artificial Intelligence (AI).
