A map broadcast by Fox News shows the massive concentration of American military assets across the Middle East, including an aircraft carrier, destroyers, amphibious assault ships, transport vessels and littoral combat ships.
The deployment stretches from the eastern Mediterranean and Red Sea to the Arabian Sea and the waters surrounding the Strait of Hormuz.
The image illustrates the scale of what has been described as a US naval siege designed to restrict Iran’s maritime activity and ensure Washington can respond rapidly to further Iranian aggression.
The large American presence also provides protection for strategic shipping lanes, supports operations against Iranian military targets and gives President Donald Trump a wide range of options without immediately launching a broader ground campaign.