The Trump administration says a US aircraft carrier- the USS Abraham Lincoln- and supporting warships have arrived in the Middle East, expanding President Donald Trump’s capabilities to defend US forces or take military action against Iran.
The US fleet including several guided missile destroyers are reported to be in striking range of Iranian territory.
Since the crackdown began on protestors by the Iranian regime, President Trump has given mixed signals on intervention, but is now warning of a "big armada next to Iran. Bigger than Venezuela."
We speak to the BBC’s Defence Correspondent Jonathan Beale about what we know about US military capabilities in the region and what could happen next.
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