Armada's on its way, says Trump as tensions rise amid Iranian crackdown and nuke fears

Donald Trump has said the US Navy has an "armada" sailing towards Iran as he renewed warnings to Tehran against restarting its nuclear programme or killing protesters.

Aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, among the largest and most powerful warships in the US fleet, has once again returned to the Middle East – backed by an array of US firepower.

However, the US president said he hoped he would not have to use it.

• USS Gerald R Ford: Behind the scenes on world's biggest warship
• F-35-loaded USS Abraham Lincoln second US aircraft carrier to arrive in Middle East
• Captured sanctions-busting oil tanker seen in UK waters after joint US-UK boarding mission

As tensions between Washington and Tehran escalate, the Abraham Lincoln is being joined by a Carrier Strike Group – comprised of three Arleigh-Burke-class destroyers – each loaded with advanced air defence and Tomahawk land attack missiles that can strike the Iranian regime's infrastructure.

USS Abraham Lincoln also carries F-35C Lightning II aircraft capable of penetrating Iranian airspace, alongside highly capable F/A-18 Super Hornets for air-to-air refuelling and follow-on strikes, and EA-18G Growlers to jam Iranian air defences.

Is this a deterrent or the start of something bigger? BFBS Forces News takes a look at the US firepower now deployed in the region in our video above.