U.S. sends carrier Theodore Roosevelt to Middle East

The American aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt has departed San Diego heading to the Middle East, in a deployment expected to last more than seven months, against the backdrop of tensions between the United States and Iran and possible preparations for renewed fighting with it.

According to reporting from the United States, the aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt has departed San Diego heading to the Middle East in a deployment expected to last more than seven months. This comes after President Donald Trump rejected Tehran's proposal, but said he expects negotiations between the countries to continue this week.

The carrier, which has been in active service since the mid-1980s, is expected to replace the aircraft carrier George Washington. It arrived in the region after replacing the carrier Abraham Lincoln, following reports of concerns about mental health of crew members, including several suicide attempts.

Meanwhile, senior officials in the Supreme Leader's regime clarified there is no intention to hold negotiations with Washington at this time. According to Admiral Siyari, a senior Iranian military official, the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf are fully under the control of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Navy, and Revolutionary Guards spokesman Hossein Mohabiti said that "the Strait of Hormuz is not only not open, but rather constitutes an area of activity of the Revolutionary Guards Navy forces against American submarines."

According to sources in the Iranian opposition cited by Aram News from the United Arab Emirates, Iran is registering heightened military and security alert in several provinces. According to them, the alert comes following information that Beijing transferred to Tehran about possible American preparations for additional strikes against military sites, power facilities and power plants.