US moves another warship within striking distance of Iran amid Middle East tensions

The USS Milius, an Aegis guided missile destroyer, is now within striking distance of Iran (Image: Getty)

The US Navy has deployed yet another warship within striking distance of Iran as fears over further conflict in the Middle East continue to grow. An Aegis guided missile destroyer, the USS Milius, has been moved from its previous posting position in the Western Pacific, where it was supporting the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson and redeployed to the eastern Mediterranean.

Pete Hesgeth, the Defense Secretary for the US, has recently ordered the USS Harry S. Truman, another aircraft carrier, to remain in the region to support actions against Yemen-based and Iranian-funded Houthi rebels.

According to Newsweek, the Pentagon has moved the warships to reinforce the American presence as tensions continue to build over the attempts to reach a nuclear weapons development deal with Iran.

Donald Trump and the US is sending a warning to Iran (Image: Getty)

President Donald Trump has already publicly declared his intentions to potentially attack Iran if an agreement to stop the Islamic Republic from having an atomic bomb can not be reached.

It is the second time in six months the US has kept two carrier strike groups in the region, as typically there is only one. Prior to that, however, it had been many years since they commited such warship power in and around the Middle East.

The presence of this much US naval power in the region not only gives commanders additional ships to patrol and possibly launch strikes, but acts as a deterrent to both Iran and Houthis. A Yemen-based militant group, reportedly backed by the Iranians, that has been waging persistent attacks against commercial and military ships in the region.

Pete Hesgeth was nominated as Donald Trump's Secretary of Defense last November (Image: Getty)

Houthis rebels have attacked more than 100 merchant vessels with missiles and drones, sinking two ships and killing four sailors between November 2023 and January of this year. The reason behind these attacks, as described by their leadership, was to end the Israeli war against Hamas.

To combat the group, the US has been busy launching a new intensive assault, including a barrage of attacks in March 2025. "Funded by Iran, the Houthi thugs have fired missiles at US aircraft, and targeted our troops and allies," Trump said, adding that their "piracy, violence, and terrorism" had cost "billions" and put lives at risk.