Yemen’s Iranian-backed Houthis threatened new attacks on ships traveling through the Red Sea, likely trying to back Iran as it worried Monday about an approaching U.S. aircraft carrier.

The US aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln has been deployed to the Middle East amid rising tensions in the region.

The U.S. Central Command on Monday (January 26) announced that the aircraft carrier is currently deployed to the Middle East.

CENTCOM shared photos on X showing sailors aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) carrying out what it described as “routine maintenance” while the carrier sails in the Indian Ocean.

In a statement, the command said the Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group is currently deployed to the Middle East to promote regional security and stability.

The arrival of the Abraham Lincoln to the region follows a U.S. Air Forces Central (AFCENT) announcement on Monday that it will be conducting “a multi-day readiness exercise to demonstrate the ability to deploy, disperse, and sustain combat airpower across the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility.”

The U.S. CENTCOM area of responsibility (AOR) stretches from Northeast Africa across the Middle East (that includes Iran) to Central and South Asia.

Yemen’s Iranian-backed Houthis are reportedly threatening to resume attacks on ships in the Red Sea, amid rising tensions with the United States.

The Houthis halted their attacks on ships after a ceasefire in the conflict, though they’ve repeatedly warned they could resume fire if needed.

The threats came as the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln moves toward the region. The group carried out more many assaults on commercial vessels before the Gaza ceasefire, claiming the strikes were intended to pressure Israel. They halted operations following the truce but have repeatedly reserved the right to resume hostilities.

From his side, the Iranian foreign minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi strongly condemned the policies of American officials regarding Iran’s internal affairs.

Iranian officials from the ministry went on to say that: “The minister strongly condemns the interventionist and provocative policies of American officials regarding Iran’s internal affairs.”

Addressing reporters on Air Force One en route to joint base Andrews on Thursday, US president Donald Trump revealed that U.S. is watching Iran “very closely.”

“We’re watching Iran. You know, we have a lot of ships going that direction just in case. We have a big flotilla going in that direction, and we’ll see what happens,” the president said. “We have a big force going toward Iran. I’d rather not see anything happen, but we’re watching them very closely.”

Mr Trump told reporters on Thursday that the US had an ‘armada’ heading in that direction but hoped he would not have to use it.

“We have an armada …. we have a massive fleet heading in that direction. And maybe we won’t have to use it. We’ll see,” the American leader said.

Analysts view the Houthi threats as indirect support for Tehran at a time of mounting U.S. diplomatic and military pressure.

Friday saw the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) targeting nine vessels and their respective owners or management firms that, it said, have transported Iranian oil and petroleum products to foreign markets.