ISTANBUL 

The US has significantly expanded its military presence in the Middle East as tensions with Iran intensify, according to reports by US news outlets, even as President Donald Trump says he hopes force will not be necessary.

The aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and its strike group have entered the US Central Command area of responsibility in the western Indian Ocean, placing the carrier within rapid striking distance of Iran, US officials told The New York Times, Reuters, and CNN. The deployment includes several guided-missile destroyers equipped with Tomahawk cruise missiles.

US military officials told the New York Times that if ordered by the White House, the carrier could carry out operations within a day or two. CNN, citing two sources, reported that the carrier’s new position would allow it to more quickly support potential US operations targeting Iran.

The military buildup comes as President Trump has received intelligence assessments suggesting Iran’s leadership is facing its most fragile moment since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, according to people familiar with the reports cited by the New York Times. Despite the assessments, officials said it remains unclear what steps the administration may ultimately take.

According to US officials quoted by the Times, the Pentagon has already sent about a dozen additional F-15E attack aircraft to the region to bolster strike capabilities. The US has also deployed additional Patriot and THAAD missile defense systems to protect American forces against possible retaliation by Iranian short- and medium-range missiles.

Long-range bombers based in the US remain on heightened alert, the Times reported. The Pentagon raised the alert level roughly two weeks ago after Trump requested military response options following Iran’s crackdown on protests.

In public remarks, Trump described the deployments as a precautionary move. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One after attending the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Trump said the US had an “armada” heading toward the region but stressed that he hoped it would not be used.

“We have a lot of ships going that direction, just in case,” Trump said, according to Reuters. “I’d rather not see anything happen, but we’re watching them very closely.”

At another point, Trump added: “We have an armada … heading in that direction, and maybe we won’t have to use it.”

Pentagon officials have also increased consultations with US allies in the region. Adm. Brad Cooper, head of US Central Command, traveled over the weekend to Syria, Iraq, and Israel to meet with US military commanders and partner forces, according to the New York Times.

At the same time, Washington signaled that it remains open to engagement. Reuters, citing a US official, said on Monday that Washington is “open for business” if Tehran wishes to contact them.

“I think they know the terms,” the official said when asked about the terms of talks with Iran. “They’re aware of the terms.”

Signs of limited communication have nonetheless emerged. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff are exchanging messages on an “informal” basis, Iran’s semi-official Students News Agency reported, according to Bloomberg. Iran’s ambassador to Geneva, Ali Bahreini, confirmed contact between the two sides but said there is no established channel.

Iranian officials, however, struck a defiant tone. Hamidreza Hajibabaei, Iran’s deputy speaker of parliament, warned that Tehran would deliver a “decisive response” if the US launches an attack. Iran’s government also said on Monday that it is “more prepared than ever” to respond to any potential strike.

Regional reactions underscored the volatility. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, speaking in Kazakhstan alongside his counterpart Yermek Kosherbayev, outlined what he described as a vision for Middle East stability that includes dismantling Iran’s regional allies.

“Iran’s proxy terror states in the Middle East, Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and the Houthis in Yemen must be dismantled,” Saar said. “Without doing so, there will be no regional stability.”

Israel has maintained a state of maximum alert amid fears of retaliatory strikes, Israeli media reported. The Israeli military also confirmed that US Central Command chief Adm. Brad Cooper and Israeli army Chief of General Staff Eyal Zamir held extended talks during Cooper’s visit to Israel, discussing ways to strengthen defense cooperation.

The United Arab Emirates sought to distance itself from any potential conflict, reaffirming Monday that it would not allow the use of its airspace, territory, or waters for “hostile military actions” against Iran.

Meanwhile, Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem warned that the Iran-aligned group would not remain neutral in the face of a US-Iran confrontation. “We are concerned with what is happening and targeted by potential aggression,” Qassem said. “We are determined to defend ourselves… but we are not neutral.”

The United Nations also weighed in, expressing concern Monday over reports of an expanding US military deployment in the region and urging restraint as tensions continue to rise.

Pentagon officials have also increased consultations with US allies in the region. Adm. Brad Cooper, head of US Central Command, traveled over the weekend to Syria, Iraq, and Israel to meet with US military commanders and partner forces, according to the New York Times.