U.S. Steps Up Pressure on Iran With USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Group and Strike Threats.

President Donald J. Trump said on January 28 that a U.S. naval armada was moving toward Iran, pointing to the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group already redeployed from the Indo-Pacific. The move signals sustained pressure on Tehran over its nuclear program rather than a sudden military buildup, reinforcing deterrence while keeping escalation options deliberately open.

Speaking at a rally in Clive, Iowa, President Trump framed the movement of U.S. naval forces toward Iran as a fresh show of strength amid renewed friction over Tehran’s nuclear activities. Defense officials and recent reporting, however, indicate the most visible element of that posture is the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) carrier strike group, a force package previously operating in the Indo-Pacific and now repositioned toward the Middle East, underscoring continuity rather than an abrupt surge.
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Trump’s 28 January “armada” claim mainly reflects the USS Abraham Lincoln strike group sustaining pressure on Iran without confirming imminent strikes. (Picture source: US DoD)

Trump’s message remains deliberately uncompromising. He reiterates that Iran must accept an agreement ensuring the absence of a nuclear weapon; strikes could follow, described as harsher than those ordered in June 2025. Tehran responds on two tracks: conditional openness to dialogue and an explicit warning of immediate retaliation if attacked. Beyond slogans, this confrontation is meant to shape deterrence, influence regional partners, and frame expectations for energy markets at a moment when the Strait of Hormuz once again appears as a systemic vulnerability for maritime trade.

Militarily, the core development is the redeployment of the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group. According to U.S. defense officials cited in the press, the Department of Defense (DoD) ordered the carrier, which had been operating in the South China Sea, to redirect toward the Middle East the previous week. The intent is to sustain a credible, immediately available strike capability by combining carrier aviation, electronic warfare, cruise missiles, and a resilient command architecture.

Forces already present in the theater reinforce this posture. Based on open-source information dated January 22, 2026, in the Persian Gulf, the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Mitscher (DDG 57) and USS McFaul (DDG 74) are operating with USNS Carl Brashear (T-AKE 7), a Lewis and Clark-class dry cargo and ammunition ship providing replenishment of supplies and munitions. In an escalation scenario, these units provide area air defense as well as deep-strike capacity through Tomahawk cruise missiles. Designed to hit land targets at long range with high precision, these missiles enable strikes from the sea while limiting aircraft exposure to the first layers of Iranian air defenses.

In the Arabian Sea, USS Abraham Lincoln leads Carrier Strike Group Nine, supported by the Arleigh Burke-class destroyers USS Frank E. Petersen Jr. (DDG 121), USS Spruance (DDG 111), and USS Michael Murphy (DDG 112). Equipped with vertical launch system (VLS) cells, this escort provides multi-domain protection against air and surface threats while also offering firepower able to strike targets in Iran from outside the most dangerous littoral areas. Replenishment assets, including USNS Henry J. Kaiser (T-AO 187), a Kaiser-class fleet oiler, extend on-station endurance, an operational requirement for maintaining pressure without reliance on port calls.

The embarked air component remains the main force multiplier. A Nimitz-class aircraft carrier can carry roughly 60 to 90 aircraft, depending on configuration. Carrier Air Wing Nine includes fighter and strike aircraft capable of multirole missions, supported by EA-18G Growler aircraft specialized in jamming and radar suppression, and E-2D Hawkeye aircraft providing airborne early warning and tactical coordination of strike packages. MH-60R and MH-60S Seahawk helicopters support maritime security and anti-submarine warfare, while the CMV-22B Osprey performs carrier onboard delivery (COD), accelerating logistics flows, spare parts transfers, and overall sustainment of flight operations.

Air assets are also being reinforced. According to U.S. officials, the U.S. Air Force has deployed a dozen F-15E Strike Eagle aircraft to undisclosed regional bases. This two-seat strike aircraft is designed to deliver precision-guided munitions, including in complex suppression of enemy air defenses (SEAD) scenarios. Combined with intelligence assets, it increases U.S. ability to assemble flexible strike packages, ranging from limited strikes to more structured raids targeting command centers, missile depots, or internal security infrastructure.

Planning remains deliberately ambiguous. The White House has not confirmed plans for airstrikes, but national security sources in the United States and the Middle East report that contingency plans are being updated daily. Potential targets would include ballistic missile launch sites, communication nodes of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), and internal security infrastructure. Exchanges with allied partners are also reported, aimed at ensuring rapid response capability if military engagement is ordered.

The Israeli factor adds another layer of complexity. Persistent reporting from Tel Aviv suggests increased coordination, while defense journalists indicate heightened readiness for several squadrons, including F-35I Adir aircraft. With low observability, integrated sensors, and the ability to operate in contested environments, these platforms are considered well-suited for strikes or for opening air corridors in an escalation scenario. At the same time, Washington and Tel Aviv are assessing the risk of activation of regional aligned actors: Shiite militias in Iraq, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and Houthi forces in Yemen, all of which have long-range drones, guided rockets, and precision munitions capable of striking U.S. bases or Israeli urban centers.

On the Iranian side, the posture oscillates between intimidation and preparation. State media has released footage of underground missile bases, mobile launchers, and air defense systems, including the Russian-built S-300PMU2. Sources report activation of ballistic missile units equipped with Qiam and Fateh-110 systems and the repositioning of mobile batteries toward the south near the Strait of Hormuz. In this configuration, U.S. surveillance by MQ-4C Triton drones and P-8A Poseidon aircraft becomes central, enabling tracking of naval movements, detection of launch preparations, and improved early warning.

At the geopolitical level, this sequence marks a clear hardening of the regional security equation. A direct U.S. action, alone or coordinated with Israel, against Iranian territory would represent a major rupture, with a high risk of spillover through proxy networks and disruption of maritime and energy flows. Even without imminent strikes, the density of forces and the elevated alert posture reduce the margin for error. In an environment saturated with sensors, missiles, drones, and armed vessels, stability depends as much on deterrence as on careful management of signals and de-escalation mechanisms, otherwise a political crisis could shift into military confrontation through a chain of incidents.

Written By Erwan Halna du Fretay - Defense Analyst, Army Recognition Group
Erwan Halna du Fretay is a graduate of a Master’s degree in International Relations and has experience in the study of conflicts and global arms transfers. His research interests lie in security and strategic studies, particularly the dynamics of the defense industry, the evolution of military technologies, and the strategic transformation of armed forces.