US military buildup off Iranian coast

According to experts, the US military buildup off the coast of Iran could be a sign of a possible military strike by Washington. The nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln is one of several US military assets deployed in the Arabian Sea in recent days.

Earlier, the US had similarly mobilised military assets from various regions of the world during the 12-day Iran-Israel war in June last year. At that time, the US sided with its ally Israel and carried out massive bombings of three Iranian nuclear facilities.

In addition, late last year, the US mobilised military assets in the Caribbean region, alleging (without providing any evidence) that Venezuelan vessels were smuggling drugs to the US. A few weeks later, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro was kidnapped from Caracas in a military operation on January 3.

Mass protests in Iran and US response

Massive protests began in Iran in late December. Initially, people protested against the country’s weak currency, but later they turned into demands for the overthrow of the government. Iranian security forces allegedly carried out widespread killings to suppress the protests. The UN special rapporteur on Iran said at least 5,000 protesters had been killed and thousands more had been detained.

US President Donald Trump seized on the situation to sharply criticize Iran’s religious leaders. He told the protesters that “help is coming,” and warned that the United States would take military action if the prisoners were executed.

Earlier this month, Trump softened his stance. He said the Iranian government had assured him that no executions would be carried out. Later, after the protests were suppressed, he claimed that this was why the planned executions had been stopped—a claim that Iran denied. Still, some analysts believe that Trump’s tough rhetoric and the unusual US military deployment off the coast of Iran indicate that an attack may be imminent.

Speaking to reporters on Air Force One on Thursday, Trump said the military deployment was part of a “if necessary” exercise.

“We have a large fleet going that way,” he said. “We may not have to use it.” But he warned that if Iran executes protesters, the US military response would make the June nuclear strike “trivial.”

What military assets has the US deployed?

The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said on Monday on Twitter that the USS Abraham Lincoln was being sent to the Middle East to ensure regional security and stability. The warship, which sailed from San Diego, California, had been stationed in the South China Sea since November.

On Tuesday, the US Air Forces Central Command (AFCENT) announced a “multi-day readiness exercise” involving more than 20 countries under its command. These countries are located across the Middle East, Asia and Africa. The exercise aims to increase the ability to deploy forces quickly and be prepared for a “flexible response,” AFCENT said.

The United States has a large military presence in the Middle East. This presence has been increased since 2024 to counter the Houthis in Yemen. By June 2025, there were about 40,000 US troops there.

The United States has permanent military bases in the Middle East in Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, and the United Arab Emirates. The United States also has military installations in Oman and Turkey.

On June 23, 2025, Iran launched a missile attack on the Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar in response to an attack on US nuclear facilities. No casualties were reported. Analysts said it was largely a symbolic or “preemptive” attack.

Military capabilities of the USS Abraham Lincoln

The USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) is a floating aircraft carrier and carries 6,000–7,000 sailors and marines. The 333-meter-long warship is powered by a nuclear reactor and can operate for years without refueling. It can travel at a speed of 56 kilometers per hour.

It is accompanied by at least three Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, which are capable of launching Tomahawk missiles and missile defense. The carrier's aircraft wing, Carrier Air Wing 9, has about 65 fighter jets, mainly F/A-18 Super Hornet.

How did the US attack in June 2025 take place?

On the night of June 22, 2025, the United States attacked three Iranian nuclear facilities in a coordinated operation called Operation 'Midnight Hammer'. The three facilities—Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan—were hit simultaneously. The operation involved about 4,000 US troops and 125 aircraft. Seven B-2 stealth bombers dropped 12 powerful bunker-buster bombs on Fordow.

More than 24 Tomahawk missiles were fired from a submarine at a research facility in Isfahan. This was the first direct US military strike on Iranian territory.

Is the US ready to strike again?

Analysts say the recent military buildup could signal a limited-scale strike, primarily against the Iranian government. Elie Geranmayeh of the European Council on Foreign Relations said the US could launch an attack under the pretext of protecting human rights. But the risks are very high.