Several US warships have arrived in the Middle East as speculation mounts over a potential American military strike against Iran.
US officials confirmed on Monday that the USS Abraham Lincoln, escorted by several guided-missile destroyers, had moved into the area of responsibility overseen by United States Central Command.
President Donald Trump had previously declared that an “armada” was being dispatched to the region.
He told reporters aboard Air Force One: “We have a lot of ships going that direction, just in case… I’d rather not see anything happen, but we’re watching them very closely.”
The deployment follows weeks of mass protests across Iran, which authorities have met with a violent crackdown that the Trump administration says it is monitoring closely.
The true death toll from the Iranian government’s response remains unclear, with figures varying widely.
Two senior Iranian health ministry officials told Time magazine on Sunday that as many as 30,000 people may have been killed during the unrest this month.
However, the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency has verified 5,459 deaths, while continuing to assess a further 17,031 reported fatalities.
US officials confirmed on Monday that the USS Abraham Lincoln had moved into the area
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The protests have now largely subsided following the brutal crackdown by Islamic Republic officials.
Alongside the death total, a medical report has suggested that more than 300,000 Iranians had been wounded in the violent clashes.
Professor Amir Parasta, an Iranian-German eye surgeon, described it as a “whole new level of brutality”.
Mr Trump said he had been informed that the killings were declining, adding that no executions were currently planned, despite earlier reports suggesting a 26-year-old shopkeeper faced the death penalty.
Iranian health officials have suggested up to 30,000 protesters may have been killed by the regime
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REUTERSThe US military has also announced plans for a major exercise aimed at demonstrating its ability to deploy, disperse and sustain combat air power across the region.
The latest deployment includes fighter jets and air-defence systems alongside the naval forces.
The build-up mirrors last year’s escalation, when US forces amassed in the region ahead of strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities in June.
Mr Trump has repeatedly warned that military action remains an option in response to Tehran’s treatment of protesters, though he has yet to authorise any strikes.
Mr Trump has repeatedly warned that military action against Tehran remains on the table
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A senior Iranian official has warned that any attack would be viewed as an act of “all-out war” against the regime.
The United Arab Emirates sought to distance itself from the prospect of conflict on Monday, announcing it would not allow its airspace, territory or waters to be used for hostile military operations against Iran.
The intervention is significant given the presence of Al Dhafra Air Base, a key US Air Force hub south of Abu Dhabi.
The base has played a central role in operations against Islamic State and in regional surveillance missions.
