As part of preparations for a potential military operation against Iran, the United States has deployed a warship near the southern Israeli port city of Eilat, in the Gulf of Aqaba. Israeli media report that the move is intended to place strategic pressure on Tehran.
In a report published Friday, Israel’s influential news outlet Ynet News stated that as tensions between Washington and Tehran continue to rise, a state-of-the-art U.S. naval warship has been anchored near Eilat, close to the borders with Egypt and Jordan. According to the report, the deployment is part of broader preparations for a possible strike against Iran.
The deployment comes at a time when the U.S. is intensifying pressure on Tehran. President Donald Trump has repeatedly warned that the United States may take military action if Iran refuses to comply with a new nuclear agreement or continues violent crackdowns against domestic protests.
According to U.S. Navy sources, there are currently six destroyers, one aircraft carrier, and at least three other warships deployed in the Middle East. Analysts view this military presence as a clear and deliberate message to Iran.
In response, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei issued a stern warning. “The Americans have repeatedly threatened war,” he said. “But the Iranian nation will not be intimidated. We do not initiate aggression, but any attack against us will be met with a firm and retaliatory response.” He further cautioned that any U.S. military action would not remain limited, but could escalate into a full-scale regional conflict.
Meanwhile, on Sunday, President Trump stated that Iran is currently engaged in “important discussions” with the United States. Yet Tehran’s recent warnings, combined with Washington’s military posturing, have heightened fears of a major confrontation in the Middle East.