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Pentagon moving carrier strike group toward Middle East amid Iran tension

15 January 2026 08:28 (UTC +04:00)

The Pentagon is moving a carrier strike group from the South China Sea to the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, which includes the Middle East, as tensions escalate between the Trump administration and Iran, NewsNation has learned, APA reports.

Moving the carrier strike group — a naval formation centered around an aircraft carrier, with a variety of other vessels, including at least one attack submarine — is expected to take about a week, a source said. The USS Abraham Lincoln is reportedly the aircraft carrier that is on the move.

This significant transfer of American military hardware comes amid developments related to unrest in Iran and questions about whether the White House will offer support to protesters who have recently challenged Iran’s autocratic regime.

The U.S. Central Command’s “area of responsibility” covers over 4 million square miles, spanning Northeast Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia and South Asia, and encompasses 21 countries such as Egypt, Iraq, Afghanistan, Iran, and Pakistan.