U.S. Deploys Third Carrier Group to Middle East Amid Escalating Tensions with Iran
The U.S. is sending its third aircraft carrier strike group, the USS Theodore Roosevelt and an amphibious force carrying 2,000 Marines, to the Middle East amid rising tensions in Yemen. The deployment comes as President Donald Trump has indicated a potential resumption of military strikes on Iran after November midterm elections. This move follows stalled indirect talks between U.S. and Iranian officials mediated by Qatar, with Washington rejecting Iran's proposal to reopen Hormuz Strait in exchange for lifting sanctions. The Saudi-led coalition accused Houthi rebels—backed by Iran—of a drone attack targeting a power station near Medina that supplies the Prophet’s Mosque. Meanwhile, the U.S. Treasury expanded sanctions against Iran’s auto and rail sectors, including state-owned firms and international suppliers. The Department of Defense also reported an unusual diplomatic rebuke from Secretary Marco Rubio toward Iranian officials during failed negotiations in New York.
Topics: Iran conflict sanctions U.S. military Yemen war