Jan. 26 (UPI) — The USS Abraham Lincoln and its carrier strike group arrived in the Middle East on Monday after President Donald Trump warned Iran that he would strike the country if it continued its crackdown on protesters there.
The warships arrive in the region as Trump considers whether he will order military action as thousands have been detained or killed during protests against the Iranian regime, while Iran’s leaders have warned they will respond strongly to any military action against the nation.
Trump said he was sending an “armada” to Iran in response to the deaths of thousands of protesters on the way back from the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on Friday.
The Trump administration is open to talks with Iran, according to a Trump administration official who told CNN that “if they want to contact us and they know what the terms are, then we’re going to have that conversation.”
Iran has increased its threats toward the United States, Israel and the West as the carrier strike group, which includes the group’s namesake carrier, as well as three Arleigh Burke guided missile destroyers and fast-attack nuclear submarine, according to The War Zone.
The ships entered the U.S. Central Command’s area of responsibility in the Indian Ocean Monday, which would allow the carrier strike group to carry out attacks within a day or two if the administration orders them to, The New York Times reported.
An Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson said at a press conference Monday that “the arrival of one or several warships does not impact Iran’s defensive determination.”
“Our armed forces are monitoring every development” and are “more than capable” of responding to U.S. attacks, Esmaeil Bagheai told reporters.
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