World: Satellite imagery has revealed the presence of a major United States aircraft carrier in waters near Iran, underscoring a growing American military footprint in the region amid renewed diplomatic efforts between Washington and Tehran, according to a report by BBC.
USS Abraham Lincoln, a nuclear-powered Nimitz-class carrier, has been identified in the Arabian Sea roughly 240km off the coast of Oman. The vessel, which anchors a carrier strike group, is accompanied by three Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyers. Together, the group represents a significant projection of US naval power in the Gulf region.
The carrier, which carries approximately 90 aircraft — including F-35 fighter jets — and has a crew of about 5,600 personnel, was believed to have entered the Gulf area in late January. However, it had not been visually confirmed until recently due to limited satellite coverage over open ocean areas.
Publicly accessible imagery from Europe’s Sentinel-2 satellites captured the warship operating in the Arabian Sea, offering the first confirmation of its position since deployment. Naval vessels at sea can be harder to track than fixed military installations, which are more frequently photographed from orbit.
The latest development comes as US and Iranian officials prepare to meet in Switzerland for a second round of negotiations. Tehran has stated that discussions will centre on its nuclear programme and the possible easing of US-imposed economic sanctions. Washington, meanwhile, has indicated it intends to broaden the agenda to include additional security concerns.
In addition to the Abraham Lincoln strike group, the US has reportedly dispatched USS Gerald R. Ford — the world’s largest aircraft carrier — to the Middle East. The Ford is expected to reach the region within weeks, further bolstering the American naval presence.
Satellite analysis indicates that at least a dozen US naval vessels are currently operating across the broader Middle East. These include destroyers stationed near Bahrain in the Gulf, others positioned in the eastern Mediterranean close to the Souda Bay base in Greece, and additional ships deployed in the Red Sea.
The expanded deployment highlights mounting tensions between Washington and Tehran, even as diplomatic channels remain open.