The United States is deploying seven additional warships carrying about 9,000 troops to the Middle East as President Donald Trump considers resuming strikes against Iran after the November midterm elections.
The aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt and three accompanying destroyers left San Diego earlier this week and are expected to reach the region by the end of November, according to a US official.
The carrier could replace one of two US carriers already in the region, the USS George H.W. Bush and USS George Washington, or operate alongside them.
The USS Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group, made up of an amphibious assault ship and two docking ships, is also heading to the region with the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit.
Trump told Time magazine that it was “possible” he could increase strikes against Iran after the midterm elections if Washington fails to reach a satisfactory agreement with Tehran.
The US has not announced any strikes on Iran or Iranian oil vessels in nearly a month.
The conflict has also become politically sensitive ahead of the November elections, with Trump’s Republican Party seeking to retain control of Congress.
US and Iranian negotiators held talks on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York last week.
The talks followed Trump’s warning to “annihilate” Iran during a speech to world leaders.
Trump later rejected an Iranian seven-day proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for a series of measures linked to a previous memorandum of understanding reached by the two countries in June.
Mediators are continuing efforts to broker an agreement between Washington and Tehran.
Under a proposed interim deal, Iran would allow commercial traffic to pass freely through the Strait of Hormuz, while the US would lift its blockade of Iranian ports.
The US military currently has about 20 warships in the region and more than 50,000 troops stationed across the Middle East.
The US Navy has been enforcing the blockade of Iranian ports and assisting commercial tankers travelling through the Strait of Hormuz, which has become a major flashpoint in the conflict.
