Media: US sends aircraft carrier to Middle East as Iran tensions escalate

The United States is redeploying significant military assets to the Middle East as tensions with Iran continue to rise, according to a journalist with knowledge of the move.

Kellie Meyer, a White House correspondent for NewsNation, said on X that the US military is transferring a carrier strike group from the South China Sea to the area of responsibility of US Central Command (CENTCOM).

“US MILITARY HARDWARE MOVING TO THE MIDDLE EAST AMID TENSIONS WITH IRAN: The U.S. is moving a carrier strike group from the South China Sea to the CENTCOM area of responsibility, a source with knowledge tells me @NewsNation,” she said.

"That will take a week or so to complete."

Nationwide protests in Iran have entered their third week, with activists reporting more than 2,500 deaths amid a sweeping security crackdown by government forces. Demonstrations, which began in late December over economic grievances, have since evolved into broader anti-government protests across multiple cities.

The Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) said it had verified 2,571 deaths so far, including protesters, security personnel and civilians, while more than 18,000 people have been arrested. The figures could not be independently verified, and Iranian authorities have not released official casualty numbers.

U.S. President Donald Trump said he had been informed by unnamed sources that killings had stopped and that planned executions of detained protesters would not take place. Iran’s judiciary chief had earlier suggested swift trials and punishments for those arrested.

By Aghakazim Guliyev