The United States military is deploying a third aircraft carrier strike group to the Middle East, along with an amphibious readiness group carrying more than 2,000 Marines. The move bolsters American naval presence in the region as President Donald Trump weighs options for additional strikes on Iran.

The USS Theodore Roosevelt, a Nimitz-class carrier, departed its San Diego homeport on Sunday and is heading to U.S. Central Command's area of operations. It is accompanied by its strike group, including the cruiser USS Chosin. The USS Makin Island amphibious readiness group, which includes the USS John P. Murtha and USS Anchorage, also set sail from San Diego on Monday with the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit.

This deployment could bring three U.S. carriers into the region by the end of October. The USS George H.W. Bush and USS George Washington are already operating in Middle Eastern waters, supported by roughly 18 other surface warships enforcing a naval blockade of Iran's southern coast.

The additional forces would increase the total U.S. naval presence to more than 20,000 sailors and Marines along with hundreds of aircraft. The last time the Navy maintained three carrier strike groups in the Middle East was in April, marking the highest concentration since 2003.

Trump has signaled resolve in the ongoing conflict with Iran, which has stretched into its eighth month. In recent remarks, he stated that Iranian targets would face strong responses. The buildup comes amid stalled diplomatic efforts and a lull in major strikes, with negotiations deadlocked over issues including Iran's control of the Strait of Hormuz.

The deployments provide U.S. commanders with greater flexibility for operations in the Arabian Sea and Persian Gulf. Central Command has not commented on specific unit schedules for operational security reasons.

The USS George Washington, normally based in Japan, has been in the region since August to relieve the USS Abraham Lincoln after an extended deployment exceeding 260 days at sea. The new arrivals are expected to sustain or expand the American military posture through the coming months.