US aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln and accompanying vessels have entered the Middle East, strengthening Washington’s presence in a period of heightened tensions with Iran. The deployment was announced by the U.S. military’s Central Command (CENTCOM) after the carrier had been operating in the South China Sea. President Donald Trump previously warned that a naval force would head toward the Gulf and that the United States was closely monitoring Iran, where the government had violently suppressed widespread protests. Trump threatened an attack on Iran in response to the repression, but later appeared to back down after Tehran said it had halted planned executions of protesters. Ahead of the CENTCOM announcement, Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaid warned that the arrival of the warship would not deter Iran’s resolve to defend itself, citing confidence in its own capabilities. The move comes after a 12‑day war between Iran and Israel in June 2025, which was sparked by an unprecedented Israeli strike on Iranian military and nuclear facilities. The United States joined Israel in the offensive, targeting three nuclear sites. Iran remains weakened by the conflict and has been violently quashing recent demonstrations, with death tolls approaching 6,000 according to a human‑rights organization.

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