United States deploys third aircraft carrier to Persian Gulf

The United States is increasing its military presence in the Persian Gulf to counter Iran. The Pentagon has deployed a third aircraft carrier, the USS Theodore Roosevelt, along with the USS Makin Island amphibious group and 9,000 additional personnel to the region.

Upon arrival in late October, the U.S. will have three carrier strike groups in the area, joining the USS George H. W. Bush, the USS George Washington, and the USS Boxer. This buildup follows indications from President Donald Trump regarding a possible military escalation following the November 3 midterm elections.

Despite the tensions, oil tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has reached an average of 10 million barrels per day. While this volume is comparable to pre-conflict levels (excluding Iranian contributions), the transit is characterized by high costs, risk premiums, and opaque ship-to-ship transfers.