What happened
The United States has sent an aircraft carrier, the Theodore Roosevelt, and additional Marines to the Middle East. This move comes amid heightened tensions between the US and Iran, as well as between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis in Yemen.
The aircraft carrier is replacing another carrier already in the region. The US is also working to increase oil flow in the area and has imposed a naval blockade on Iranian shores.
Qatar is pushing for a breakthrough in negotiations between the US and Iran to end the conflict that began about seven months ago. However, according to reports, these efforts have not yielded significant progress.
US officials believe that the current stalemate is increasing the likelihood of renewed military conflict, particularly after an exchange of threats between the two sides earlier in the week. President Donald Trump has reiterated his stance that Iran must not be allowed to acquire nuclear weapons and that the war will end soon.
Iranian officials have responded, with the Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, Mohsen Rezaei, criticizing the US administration and stating that it is unable to negotiate or go to war effectively.