Iran war: US aircraft carrier with 10,000 troops aboard sets sail for Middle East as Donald Trump prepares new Iran assault within weeks

A third aircraft carrier with 10,000 troops has now set sail for the Middle East, with Donald Trump thought to be considering a new assault on Iran in a matter of weeks. The USS Theodore Roosevelt and its strike group, which left San Diego on Sunday, will join fellow aircraft carriers the USS George HW Bush and USS George Washington in the region by the end of November. If the Washington stays in the region after the Roosevelt's strike group arrives, it will bring the US presence in the Middle East to its largest since April.

Vessels from the USS Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group also deployed on Monday, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) first reported. TRENDING Stories Videos Your Say The Roosevelt, the Makin Island group, and a number of already-stationed vessels from the USS Boxer Amphibious Ready Group add to more than 50,000 troops already in the region, a Navy official said. Such a large presence will bring to mind Mr Trump's warnings of a " massive armada " in January.

The Pentagon and Centcom did not respond to the WSJ asking if the Washington would return to its home port in Japan. But, an hour after news broke, Centcom published a video of the Washington conducting "flight operations while sailing in regional waters in the Middle East". The crew of the Roosevelt are said to be prepared for a longer-than-normal deployment after the USS Abraham Lincoln's extended deployment raised fears of mental health burnout, limited meals, and even suicide attempts.

Video of the USS George Washington (pictured) conducting 'flight operations' was published after reports of the USS Theodore Roosevelt's deployment | CENTCOM Its sailors were given a five-day shore leave to Pattaya, Thailand , a "Sin City" known for its brothels, in early September. The military buildup in the Middle East follows Mr Trump's public rejection of an Iranian peace deal which would open up the Strait of Hormuz and implement a ceasefire.

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi demanded the US meet "necessary conditions", which he said were included in the 60-day memorandum of understanding . In a new interview with US outlet Time magazine, the President said he could not accept Iran's peace deal "because things that I wouldn't have approved a year ago I wouldn't have today". He also claimed the public had only seen "some aspects of it", adding that the deal was just "not good enough".

LATEST ON IRAN: Israel 'warned Britain of Iranian attack on UK soil' nearly a month ago reveals Benjamin Netanyahu Andy Burnham reveals 'strong indication Iran played part' in RAF Fairford incident Ed Miliband under fire after posing for photo with Iran regime minister Donald Trump said it was 'possible' the US could strike Iran after the midterms | REUTERS The President then told Pentagon officials he was considering resuming large-scale strikes on Iran after the midterms, according to US outlets.

When asked by the magazine, Mr Trump said it was "possible" those reports were true. And when directly questioned if he was considering strikes at that timescale, he did not deny it and spoke about the state of the US' defences. "We have a lot of weapons," he said. "We've been stocking up for the last six months. "Biden gave away massive amounts of munitions to Ukraine. Much more so than what we spent, but we're in great shape. And we're in great shape, but we're also now stocking up big and making - and we're keeping it."

The USS Theodore Roosevelt and its strike group will make more than 50,000 troops in the Middle East | US NAVY The US has maintained a presence of about 20 ships in the Middle East to enforce its blockade and help escort commercial ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz, according to Navy officials. But as defence expert Alan Mendoza highlighted, the American blockade is working. "It’s all happening rather quietly, but the US campaign to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and economically strangle Iran simultaneously is working," he said.

"Crude oil exports are approaching the pre-war level, but the Iranian percentage within them has collapsed. "President Trump may yet be on the verge of the greatest reordering of the Middle East in half a century." Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter