US sends naval strike group to Middle East as expanded military options against Iran presented to Trump.
US Naval Deployment to Middle East
Washington has sent a maritime strike group to the Middle East, led by the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier. The US President stated that the armada of ships heading to the region is “even bigger” than the one previously directed toward Venezuela.
Iran’s Warning of Retaliation
The appearance of this flotilla has raised concerns of direct US-Iranian confrontation. Tehran has warned that in case of an attack, it will respond with missile strikes against US bases, ships, and allies, particularly Israel.
Expanded Military Options Against Iran
In recent days, President Trump has also been presented with an expanded list of potential military options against Iran. These aim to cause further damage to Iranian nuclear and missile facilities or weaken the regime.
Options Beyond Previous Considerations
These options go beyond the proposals Trump considered two weeks ago as a way to stop Iranian government security forces from killing protesters. The current set of possibilities even includes potential US raids on targets located within the country.