US aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln arrives in the Middle East

The USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier arrived in the Middle East, the U.S. military command announced Monday, bolstering its presence in the area amid strong tensions with Iran.

The aircraft carrier and accompanying ships were sent to the region as Iran cracked down on huge protest demonstrations. Although U.S. President Donald Trump did not advance military action against Tehran, he has insisted that all options remain on the table.

"The Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group is currently deployed to the Middle East to promote regional security and stability," Central Command (CENTCOM), which is responsible for U.S. military operations in the Middle East and parts of Central Asia, said in X.

The situation in Iran

The protests rocking Iran began in late December in response to the cost of living, but drifted into a movement against the Ayatollah regime, established since the 1979 revolution.

A U.S.-based human rights group said Monday it confirmed the deaths of nearly 6,000 people during the heavily repressed demonstrations in Iran. Other international media sources and agencies have estimated more than 36,000 dead in the protests.

Trump repeatedly warned Iran that if it killed protesters, the U.S. would intervene militarily, and also encouraged Iranians to take control of state institutions.

But he has not ordered strikes at the time, after noting that Tehran had halted more than 800 executions because of pressure from Washington. He ruled out the option this week after several investigations.