The US on Monday (Janaury 26, 2026) deployed a naval strike group under an aircraft carrier in West Asia, as Iran retorted that it would target American militay assets in case Tehran is attacked.
As the war clouds loomed over West Asia, America’s ally, United Arab Emirates (UAE) refused to allow its bases to be used by the American forces to launch an attack on Iran.
Why did the US deploy an aircraft carrier in West Asia?
USS Abraham Lincoln will be sailing to West Asia to provide a boost to American military presence and firepower capabilities in the region, as human rights groups in the US highlighted the crackdown by the Iranian authorities on the citizens protesting against the government for what they called administrative failures.
The human rights groups, based in the US, claimed nearly 6,000 people were killed in the protest in Iran, mostly due to use of force by the Iranian security forces. They also claimed that the casualty figures could be higher than their estimates.
The protests had begun in December 2025 over state of the economy of Iran, but soon turned into a mass movement against the Islamic rulers, as street demonstrations continued for several days earlier this month.
How has the US been involved in conflicts with Iran?
In June 2025, the US had backed Israel and briefly joined the missile strikes on Iran during the 12-day war. Last week, Trump peddled up the verbal offensive against Iran’s present government, but backed off regarding any military intervention, though the option was not ruled out.
The US Central Command posted on microblogging site X that USS Abraham Lincoln had arrived in West Asia, as the warships were “currently deployed in the Middle East to promote regional security and stability.” Trump had previously threatened to step in, saying that Washington was sending a “massive fleet” to the region “just in case”.
How did Iran react to the US aircraft carrer deployment?
In response to the aircraft carrier deployment, Iran’s Foreign Ministry warned of a “comprehensive and regret-inducing response to any aggression”. Spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said Iran was “confident in its own capabilities”.
“The arrival of such a battleship is not going to affect Iran’s determination and seriousness to defend the Iranian nation,” he added.
What was the Iranian message to the US?
A banner in Tehran showed an American aircraft carrier being destroyed. “If you sow the wind, you will reap the whirlwind,” its English-language caption read.
Iran’s naval power is not merely defensive but also acts as an anchor of stability in the region,” state news agency IRNA quoted the commander of the Iranian navy Shahram Irani as saying.
“In Lebanon, Iran-backed Shiite group Hezbollah, whose capabilities and leadership were severely degraded in a war with Israel in 2024, organised a rally in support of the Islamic republic featuring an address by its leader Naim Qassem, who warned “a war on Iran this time will ignite the region”.
What was UAE’s position on the growing US-Iran conflict?
Meanwhile, Iran’s western neighbour, UAE, which has an American airbase within its territory, said it would not allow attacks on its neighbour from its soil.
The UAE reiterated that it will not allow its airspace, land or territorial waters to be used for any military operations targeting Iran, as tensions continue to rise in the region.
What was UAE’s appeal to both the US and Iran?
In an official statement posted on X, the UAE Foreign Ministry said the country remains committed to “not allowing its airspace, territory, or waters to be used in any hostile military actions against Iran, and to not providing any logistical support in this regard.”
It emphasised on “dialogue, de-escalation, adherence to international law and respect for state sovereignty constitute the most effective foundations for addressing current crises.”
What did Trump say about Iranian civilian unrest?
The UAE statement came amidst a growing American military presence near Iran, including the deployment of USS Abraham Lincoln in West Asia.
Against this backdrop, Trump warned that Washington would resort to military action against Iran if the Islamic Republic engages in what he described as “use of violence against protesters.”