The carrier strike group, which includes three guided-missile destroyers, is being deployed “to support regional security and stability,” U.S. Central Command said. CBS News reported the group has not yet taken a final operational position.
President Donald Trump has repeatedly warned Iran of possible intervention following the violent suppression of protests that erupted late last year. He later said he had received assurances that Tehran would not carry out executions of detained demonstrators.
Last week, Trump said a powerful U.S. armada was heading toward Iran “just in case,” adding that he hoped it would not have to be used. CNN reported Monday that no decision on a possible intervention has yet been made.
CENTCOM has also announced the deployment of additional F-15E fighter jets to the region to help defend U.S. bases and Israel. Iran has warned it would strike American installations in the Middle East if the United States intervenes.
U.S. military planners have considered options ranging from precision strikes to cyberattacks, according to media reports. Still, Israel’s Haaretz newspaper noted that current U.S. force levels remain lower than during previous Iran-Israel confrontations in April 2024 and June 2025.
The paper added that any new conflict involving Israel could prove far more costly, including in civilian casualties.
In June 2025, Israel launched strikes on Iran aimed at halting its nuclear and missile programs. Iran responded with missile and drone attacks. During 12 days of fighting, about 1,000 people were killed in Iran and around 30 in Israel.
Israel’s tourism ministry said Monday it is preparing an evacuation plan for about 42,000 foreign tourists in the event of war with Iran. If airspace is closed, visitors would be transported out of the country via land crossings.
Israeli media reported that the head of the country’s civil aviation authority has warned foreign airlines that the region could enter a “more sensitive period” by the end of the week. Several Western carriers had already reduced flights amid the tensions.
Iran-aligned Houthi rebels in Yemen also threatened new attacks on Monday. During Israel’s war with Hamas in Gaza, the Houthis targeted shipping in the Red Sea, severely disrupting one of the world’s key trade routes.
Meanwhile, the United Arab Emirates said it would not allow its territory, airspace or territorial waters to be used for any military operations against Iran.
(jh)
Source: PAP