The US Navy has deployed another warship to the Middle East, a senior American official confirmed Thursday, increasing Washington’s military presence in the region amid mounting tensions with Iran, according to Reuters.
A US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, emphasized that the USS Delbert D. Black entered the Middle East within the past 48 hours, Al Arabiya reported.
Therefore, the number of American destroyers in the region grew to six, alongside an aircraft carrier and three littoral combat ships.
The relations between Iran and Washington have seen sharp escalation after Iran’s violent suppression of anti-government protests earlier this month.
On Wednesday, US President Donald Trump pressed Iran to negotiate a nuclear deal, warning that any future American strike would be “far worse.”
Trump also declared the deployment of a naval “armada” to the Middle East and warned Tehran against targeting anti-government protesters or reviving its nuclear program.
In response, Tehran announced that it would retaliate against the United States, Israel, and their allies.
Since January 8, Iranian people have been largely severed from the internet, after authorities imposed a sweeping blackout amid nationwide protests.
Global leaders said that Iranian authorities exploited the blackout to launch a deadly crackdown on protesters, with rights groups reporting several thousand deaths and the Norway-based NGO Iran Human Rights warning the death toll could surpass 25,000.
Trump also vowed to intervene in support of Iranian protesters, warning that time is running out for a nuclear deal with Tehran.
At the same time, he noted that failure to reach a deal with Tehran could unleash a significant US assault.
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