Just a week after the Pentagon announced it would deploy more fighter jet squadrons and destroyers to the Middle East in response to Iran’s threats, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin ordered the deployment of the USS Georgia guided-missile submarine to the region on August 11 amid mounting tensions between Israel and Iran.
Following a conversation with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, Austin reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to defend Israel by taking every possible step. He also directed the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier strike group to expedite its transit to the Middle East after an earlier deployment, as per a readout issued by the Pentagon.
The USS Abraham Lincoln was set to replace the USS Theodore Roosevelt in the Middle East, but Austin requested to accelerate its transit. During the discussion, Austin informed Gallant that the U.S. was enhancing its military force posture and capabilities in the Middle East due to escalating regional tensions.
They also discussed Israel’s operations in Gaza, the importance of minimizing civilian harm, progress towards securing a ceasefire with Hamas and the release of hostages, as well as efforts to deter aggression from the Iranian Islamic regime.
The Pentagon had previously announced the deployment of more fighter jet squadrons, destroyers, and cruisers capable of ballistic missile defense to the Middle East to mitigate the possibility of regional escalation by Iran.
Concerns about a potential escalation arose following the killing of Ismail Haniyeh, the political leader of Hamas, in Iran on July 31. Although Iran accused Israel of the killing, Israel did not claim responsibility.
US Warns Iran Against Escalation
Matthew Miller, a State Department spokesman, stated on August 5 that Washington had urged Tehran through diplomatic channels not to escalate tensions in the Middle East, emphasizing that such actions would not serve Iran’s or the region’s interests.
Following Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s discussions with Qatari Prime Minister Al Thani and Egyptian Foreign Minister Abdelatty about Middle East tensions, Miller mentioned that the U.S. had been communicating with relevant parties in the region to convey that escalation was not in anyone’s best interest. He added that diplomatic relationships should be utilized to prevent escalation.
Miller did not confirm if Washington’s messages had reached Iran or through which channel they were delivered. The U.S. and Iran have had no formal diplomatic relations since 1980, following the Iranian takeover of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran in 1979.
Jack Phillips contributed to this report.
