In recent days, the United States military has increased its presence near Iran, a move President Trump has described as the deployment of an “armada.”

At the center of this buildup is the aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln, accompanied by three missile-equipped warships armed with Tomahawk cruise missiles. According to U.S. Navy officials, the carrier strike group entered the U.S. Central Command’s area of operations in the western Indian Ocean earlier this week and has since taken up position in the Arabian Sea.

Flight tracking records support these statements. One of the carrier’s supply aircraft has been observed making repeated flights between the Arabian Sea and Oman over the past several days, indicating sustained operations in the area.

With its onboard F-35 stealth fighters and F/A-18 strike aircraft, the Abraham Lincoln is now within operational range of numerous potential targets inside Iran, should President Trump decide to authorize military action.

In addition to naval forces, the United States has deployed at least a dozen F-15E strike aircraft to the region to strengthen land-based airpower, U.S. officials said. Satellite imagery shows these jets positioned at a Jordanian air base, the same location used during “Operation Midnight Hammer” in June 2025.

Data from aircraft tracking services also suggests that more U.S. military aircraft are being repositioned closer to the region. These include advanced fighter jets as well as aerial refueling planes, which would extend the range and endurance of combat operations. At the same time, the Pentagon has sent additional Patriot and THAAD missile defense systems to the area to protect U.S. forces from possible retaliatory attacks involving Iranian short- and medium-range missiles. An estimated 30,000 to 40,000 American troops are currently stationed across the region.

Despite the heightened military posture, President Trump has not yet approved any direct military action or selected from the range of options presented by the Pentagon. Officials emphasized that he continues to leave room for a diplomatic approach to ease tensions.

Meanwhile, long-range bombers based in the continental United States, capable of striking targets inside Iran, have been placed on an elevated alert level. The Pentagon increased their readiness nearly three weeks ago after President Trump requested potential response options following a government crackdown on domestic protests in Iran.