Iran warned the United States on Monday against a potential intervention after violent crackdowns on domestic protests, while the US reinforced its military presence in the region by sending the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier into CENTCOM waters of the Indian Ocean. President Donald Trump announced a naval "army" heading toward the Persian Gulf, maintaining pressure on Tehran and threatening to strike the country. The carrier, previously in the South China Sea, was ordered to head to the Middle East, according to American media. Tehran’s spokesperson Esmail Baghai replied that the arrival of such a warship will not deter Iran’s resolve to defend its nation. Iran’s Defense Ministry warned that any US or Israeli aggression would be met with a more severe and decisive response than in the past. Deputy President Mohammad Reza Aref said the government has prepared a wartime management plan but does not seek conflict, pledging to defend the country if necessary. The tensions follow a 12‑day war in June 2025 between Iran and Israel, sparked by an Israeli strike on Iranian military and nuclear facilities, with the US retaliating by striking three Iranian nuclear sites. Meanwhile, Iran has violently suppressed recent protests that began in December over economic crisis, blocking internet access and killing thousands of demonstrators, with official death counts ranging from 3,117 to over 36,000.

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