US Deploys Abraham Lincoln Aircraft Carrier Strike Group Toward Iran Amid Rising Tensions

Washington/Tehran: The United States has reportedly deployed the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, equipped with 90 fighter jets and helicopters, toward the Middle East amid escalating tensions with Iran. The carrier strike group (ABECSG) is capable of launching devastating attacks and is considered a “floating battlefield,” carrying advanced aircraft including F-35C Lightning II and F/A-18E/F Super Hornet jets.

According to defense sources, the Abraham Lincoln strike group was redirected from the South China Sea to the Middle East following Pentagon orders. The carrier operates on nuclear power and is considered one of the most powerful units in the U.S. Navy. It is accompanied by a fleet of Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers, capable of missile defense and long-range strikes.

Strike Capabilities and Strategic Role

The Abraham Lincoln carries Tomahawk missiles with a range of 1,600–2,500 kilometers, enabling strikes deep into Iranian territory, including Tehran, without entering its airspace. It can also intercept missiles targeting Israel, as demonstrated in previous incidents last June.

Defense analysts note that while aircraft carriers are not always required for emergency or offensive operations, repositioning a carrier strike group from INDOPACOM to CENTCOM takes 1–3 weeks. However, with heightened tensions, the U.S. is speeding up its deployment. USS Theodore Roosevelt and USS George H.W. Bush also recently departed San Diego and Norfolk, respectively, and are en route to the region.

Rising Likelihood of Military Action

U.S. leaders have met with exiled Iranian leader Reza Pahlavi and openly expressed support for Iranian protesters, signaling a willingness to escalate militarily if necessary. Meanwhile, Iranian authorities have closed their airspace and issued strong warnings, while U.S. personnel at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar have been temporarily withdrawn due to regional security concerns.

The deployment of the Abraham Lincoln strike group suggests that the possibility of a U.S. attack on Iran is imminent, with both sides bracing for a potential confrontation.