Iranian vessels positioned across Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman as US carrier approaches

Multiple Iranian-flagged vessels have been tracked across strategic waterways in the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman as the United States moves the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group towards the region amid escalating tensions with Tehran, according to maritime tracking data from January 22.

The vessel ABOBAKR 83 was positioned between Kooh Mobarak in Iran and Khor Fakkan anchorage in the UAE, having departed on January 21 at 06:45 and arrived at 17:26. The vessel was moving at 0.1 knots and classified as "unspecified" by maritime tracking services.

A second vessel, MOHAMMADI 5 99, was tracked in the Gulf of Oman near Muscat, with its last position received approximately 12 hours prior. The vessel was also classified as "unspecified", indicating its specific type and purpose could not be immediately determined from tracking data.

Two additional Iranian-flagged vessels were also positioned in the Persian Gulf near UAE waters. Both vessels were classified as "unspecified" by maritime tracking services.

The vessels' presence comes as the USS Abraham Lincoln, a Nimitz-class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, transits through the Malacca Strait towards the Persian Gulf following President Donald Trump's warnings of potential military action against Iran over its crackdown on protesters, multiple media outlets reported.

The carrier strike group, which includes guided-missile destroyers USS Spruance, USS Michael Murphy and USS Frank E. Petersen Jr, departed the South China Sea and is expected to arrive in the region within approximately one week, according to US defence officials cited by The New York Times and ABC News.

The deployment marks the first time a US aircraft carrier has entered the Persian Gulf region under Central Command since tensions escalated following widespread anti-government protests in Iran that began in late December 2025.

The USS Abraham Lincoln's strike group is accompanied by F-35C fighters and F/A-18E/F Super Hornets from Carrier Air Wing 9.

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy has conducted large-scale military exercises in the Persian Gulf in recent weeks, with Rear Admiral Alireza Tangsiri stating that the drills demonstrate Tehran's "ability to establish security in the region".

The IRGCN has tested high-speed boats capable of launching missiles and demonstrated anti-ship missile capabilities during the exercises.

Iranian authorities have warned that American military bases in regional countries, including facilities in Qatar, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, would become "legitimate targets" in the event of US strikes on Iran.

The Pentagon is also deploying additional air defence systems to the region, including Patriot and THAAD batteries, to protect American forces stationed across Gulf states. F-15 fighters have already arrived in Jordan, with US Central Command stating their presence "enhances combat readiness".