The aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group is currently in the Indian Ocean and close to supporting a potential US operation targeting Iran, two sources told CNN.
The group falls within the area of responsibility of U.S. Central Command, which includes military operations in the Middle East.
Still, the carrier does not have to be in the final position for potential operations. President Donald Trump continues to consider options for attacking Iran, but there is no indication that any decisions have been made.
Carrier strike groups typically include aircraft carriers, guided missile cruisers, anti-aircraft ships, anti-submarine destroyers, or frigates.
CNN previously reported that the carrier was on its way to the area.
Allies urge the United States to forestall any military action.
The death toll continues to rise in Iran due to the government’s crackdown on protesters. On Sunday, the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) reported that 5,520 protesters have been killed since the demonstrations began late last month. It said an additional 17,091 deaths were still under investigation.
President Trump has warned Iran not to kill protesters and has repeatedly threatened to intervene if it does. But last week, he said Iran “wants to talk” and suggested the United States could enter into talks with Tehran.
U.S. officials said Monday that the administration reiterated its readiness to talk with the Iranian regime “as long as we know what the terms are.”
“We are open for business as they say. If they want to contact us and they know the terms, we will have discussions,” the official said.
Meanwhile, the Islamic Republic is bracing for a possible attack by the United States. In Tehran, a large mural depicting a swarm of fighter jets flying over a warship flying the American flag was unveiled on Sunday in Revolution Square.
During Friday prayers in the capital, the imam who led the sermon warned the United States against any attack.
“The trillions of dollars you have invested in this region are under the watchful eye of our missiles,” Mohammad Ali Akbari said.
Iran has escalated its rhetoric against the United States over the past week, warning that any attack would be met with force that could destabilize the entire Middle East.
Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Esmail Baghai told reporters on Monday that Iran is “more than capable” to respond with “regret” to any attack from the United States.
“The arrival of one or a few warships will not affect Iran’s defense resolve,” he said. “Our military is monitoring every development and is not wasting a second to improve its capabilities.”
The Iranian military announced on Saturday that its missile capabilities and efficiency have significantly improved since the 12-day war with Israel in June. Iran has launched multiple waves of missile and drone strikes against Israeli targets during the conflict, which began after Israel launched a surprise attack on Iran last year, killing several military leaders and a nuclear scientist. The United States later joined in and targeted Iran’s main nuclear facilities.
Iran has a large arsenal of medium- and long-range ballistic missiles, and several types were fired at Israel during the conflict. Drones, a mainstay of military power, are deployed across borders, including during Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Maj. Gen. Ali Abdullahi, commander of Iran’s main military operational command, Khatam al-Anbiya Central Command, said last week that any invasion of the country would “immediately turn all American interests, bases, and centers of influence into legitimate, clear, and accessible targets for Iran.”
Iranian officials also warned that a U.S. attack would lead to attacks on U.S. allies in the region. Regional officials told CNN this month that U.S. Arab allies in the Persian Gulf are lobbying President Trump to oppose the attack.
Iran also has a network of regional proxies that could be mobilized in the event of an attack. While some of its proxies, such as Hezbollah, have been significantly weakened by Israel over the past two years, others remain heavily armed.
On Sunday, Abu Hussein al-Hamidawi, commander of Iraq’s pro-Iranian militia Katab Hezbollah, called on “Iranian supporters around the world to prepare for all-out war in support of the Islamic Republic of Iran.”
“We say that war against the enemy, the (Islamic) Republic, is not a walk in the park,” he said.
CNN’s Nadeen Ebrahim and Jennifer Hansler contributed to this report.
