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US Sends Carrier Group, Bombers to Warn Iran

John Bolton
John Bolton said the US is deploying the USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group and a bomber task force

John Bolton

The US has deployed USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group and a bomber task force to warn Iran, amidst the growing tensions between the US and Iran.

The United States has sent an aircraft carrier strike group and a bomber task force to the Middle East. The deployment is aimed at “clear and unmistakable” message to Iran, US National Security Advisor John Bolton said Sunday.

“US is deploying the USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group and a bomber task force to the US Central Command region,” Bolton said. He added that any attack on the US interests or on our allies will be met with unrelenting force. The US has also designated the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization. This has marking the first time that Washington has officially used that label on a foreign state institution.

Bolton said that the US is not seeking war with the Iranian regime. However, it is completely prepared to respond to “any attack, whether by proxy, IRGC, or regular Iranian forces”. The statement did not specifically state why the deployment is taking place now. However, it comes during a deadly escalation between Gaza-based Palestinian militants and Israel. The two sides had shelled rocket fire and air strikes in recent days.

This isn’t the first time the aircraft carrier has been deployed to the Gulf. But the deployment has come amidst growing tensions between Washington and Tehran over the latter’s nuclear program. The US took an aim at Iranian enriched uranium exports with sanctions.

Recently, the Trump administration had announced to end waivers in May. According to this, the importers will have to face US sanctions on buying Iranian oil. The decision is intended to reduce Iran’s oil exports to zero.

The United States withdrew from the 2015 nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers in May 2018. It later re-imposed sanctions targeting Iran’s oil, shipping, and banking sector.

Also read: US-Iran