Is Trump preparing to strike Iran? US military assets move into position

As tensions escalate following early January threats from President Trump over Iran's crackdown on civilian protesters, American naval strike groups and strategic assets are repositioning in a pattern that mirrors previous military operations against Tehran.

The USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group, which was stationed in the South China Sea when Trump issued his initial warnings, has been steadily advancing towards the Arabian Sea. On 20 January, the Lincoln crossed the Malacca Straits and entered the Indian Ocean, travelling at speeds exceeding 20 knots before going dark, switching off its automatic identification system to conceal its location. At that pace, the carrier could enter the Arabian Sea by 23 January.

The Lincoln travels with a formidable escort: destroyers and nuclear-powered submarines providing comprehensive air and underwater protection. Aboard the carrier are between 48 and 60 F/A-18 strike aircraft, each capable of reaching targets up to 2,300 kilometres away without refuelling. To effectively strike Iranian targets, the carrier group would need to position itself in the northern Arabian Sea.