This photo provided by the US Navy shows a Boeing F/A-18E Super Hornet landing on the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln in the Indian Ocean on Jan 22, 2026. (Photo: AP)

Tensions between the United States and Iran have sharply escalated after US President Donald Trump warned Tehran to negotiate a nuclear deal or face military action “far worse” than Operation Midnight Hammer, as a “massive armada” moves into West Asia, raising fears of an imminent military confrontation.Trump has repeatedly urged Iran to “come to the table” for an “equitable” deal, making clear that there should be “no nuclear weapons.” On Wednesday, he issued a fresh warning. “A massive Armada is heading to Iran. It is moving quickly, with great power, enthusiasm, and purpose,” Trump said in a post on Truth Social. He said that the fleet, led by the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, was “ready, willing, and able to rapidly fulfill its mission, with speed and violence, if necessary.”“The next attack will be far worse! Don’t make that happen again,” he added.Iran’s mission to the United Nations responded by saying Tehran “stands ready for dialogue based on mutual respect and interests.” However, it also issued a sharp warning: if provoked, Iran “WILL DEFEND ITSELF AND RESPOND LIKE NEVER BEFORE.”Trump has repeatedly threatened military action against Iran, citing its treatment of civilians amid a civil uprising that began last month and has reportedly killed thousands.

US military moves into West Asia

Soon after Trump’s remarks, the US confirmed increased military activity in the region. The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said the USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group has entered its area of responsibility after being redirected from the Indo-Pacific.The Nimitz-class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier is accompanied by Arleigh Burke-class destroyers USS Frank E Petersen Jr, USS Spruance, and USS Michael Murphy, giving Washington enhanced strike capabilities.CENTCOM also announced military exercises in West Asia to demonstrate the ability to “deploy, disperse, and sustain combat airpower,” though it did not specify the location or duration.Alongside naval assets, the Pentagon is moving fighter jets and air defence systems to the Middle East. These include F-35C and F/A-18 fighter jets, EA-18 Growler electronic warfare aircraft, and F-15E Strike Eagles deployed to bases in the region.The US is also transferring Patriot and THAAD air defence systems to protect American forces and partners from potential Iranian counterattacks, according to a Wall Street Journal report.“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,” Trump had earlier said on Friday.

All about Trump’s ‘beautiful armada’

USS Abraham Lincoln

The USS Abraham Lincoln is one of the US Navy’s most formidable aircraft carriers. According to the Naval Air Force, US Pacific Fleet, its keel was laid on November 3, 1984, at Newport News, Virginia. The ship was christened less than four years later and commissioned on November 11, 1989, in Norfolk, Virginia.After completing shakedown and acceptance trials, the carrier departed Norfolk in September 1990, sailing around South America before arriving in Alameda, California.The carrier’s first major deployment came in May 1991 following Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait. However, the Abraham Lincoln was diverted to support evacuation operations after the eruption of Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines.

F-15E Strike Eagle

The F-15E Strike Eagle is a dual-role fighter designed for both air-to-air and air-to-ground missions. Equipped with advanced avionics, it can operate at low altitudes, day or night, and in all weather conditions.The aircraft has a two-member crew—a pilot and a weapon systems officer—and can strike targets deep inside enemy territory, destroy ground positions, and fight its way out.Its navigation system combines a laser gyro and GPS to continuously track position, feeding data to onboard computers and digital moving maps in both cockpits.The APG-70 radar enables long-range detection of ground targets, while the LANTIRN system allows low-altitude night flying and precision strikes in poor weather using guided and unguided weapons.

F-15E: Official website of the US Air Force. AF.MIL

F-35C Lightning II

The F-35C Lightning II is the US Navy’s first and only fifth-generation stealth fighter designed specifically for aircraft carrier operations. It features larger wings, reinforced landing gear and folding wingtips to operate from carrier decks.According to F35.com, the jet offers unmatched stealth, sensor fusion and situational awareness, making it one of the most lethal and survivable fighter aircraft in the world.The F-35C has proven its combat capability by:

Key specifications include:

F/A-18 Super Hornet

The F/A-18 Super Hornet forms the backbone of US Navy carrier air wings. It is a multirole strike fighter equipped with advanced avionics, AESA radar and networked combat capabilities.

This handout photograph from the U.S. Navy shows Aviation Boatswain’s Mate 2nd Class Michael Cordova directing an F/A-18F Super Hornet on the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln in the Indian Ocean on Jan. 23, 2026. (AP)

EA-18G Growler

Operating alongside it is the EA-18G Growler, a specialised electronic warfare aircraft that jams enemy radars, disrupts communications and suppresses air defences, critical for any strike operation against heavily defended targets

This handout image from the U.S. Navy shows an EA-18G Growler launching from the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln in the Indian Ocean on Jan. 23, 2026. (AP)

Seahawk Helicopters

The MH-60R (Romeo) and MH-60S (Sierra) Seahawks are the US Navy’s primary multi-mission helicopters, used for anti-submarine warfare, surface combat and logistics support.

This handout image from the U.S. Navy shows Capt. Daniel Keeler, the commanding officer of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, as he prepares to fly an MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopter in the Indian Ocean on Jan. 23, 2026. (AP)

Introduced in 2006, the MH-60R replaced two earlier helicopter models, allowing a single platform to perform a full range of maritime missions. The helicopters are jointly built by Sikorsky Aircraft and Lockheed Martin.

Nuclear-Powered Submarines

According to the US Naval Institute, the introduction of nuclear propulsion in the 1950s revolutionised submarine warfare by eliminating endurance and power limitations.The US Navy operates a vast fleet of nuclear-powered submarines, beginning with USS Nautilus (commissioned in 1954) and including multiple classes such as Skate and Skipjack.These submarines provide stealth, long-range strike capability and undersea dominance—key elements of US naval power projection.The arrival of the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group, backed by advanced fighter jets, electronic warfare aircraft, helicopters and nuclear-powered submarines, gives Washington the capability to carry out swift and decisive military operations, even as Gulf Arab states have signalled they do not want to be drawn into a conflict despite hosting American forces. Meanwhile, Iranian-backed militias in the region have indicated readiness to carry out new attacks, potentially escalating tensions further as both sides harden their positions.