The Pentagon moves the aircraft carrier strike group to the Middle East and Iran announces the temporary closure of its airspace

# Huanqiu Wang

NewsNation reported that the Pentagon is redeploying an aircraft carrier strike group from the South China Sea to the area of responsibility of the U.S. Central Command, which includes the Middle East region, with the movement expected to take one week. RIA Novosti reported that a U.S. military reconnaissance plane flew close to Iran’s border. Iran announced the temporary closure of its airspace.

Citing a source, U.S. television channel NewsNation reported on the 14th local time that as tensions between the United States and Iran escalate, the Pentagon is relocating an aircraft carrier strike group from the South China Sea to the area of responsibility of the U.S. Central Command, which covers the Middle East region.

The report stated that the redeployment of the aircraft carrier strike group is expected to take approximately one week.

It is understood that the U.S. Central Command is a theater-level unified combatant command under the U.S. Department of Defense, with its area of responsibility covering the Middle East, North Africa and Central Asia.

On the 14th, RIA Novosti cited data from the 24-hour flight radar website and reported that a U.S. military MQ-4C unmanned reconnaissance aircraft recently took off from a U.S. military base in the United Arab Emirates, flew over the Persian Gulf, patrolled along Iran’s border, and turned back after reaching the Gulf of Oman. In addition, a U.S. military C-130J Super Hercules transport aircraft took off from Qatar. On the 14th, the Qatar International Media Office issued a statement confirming that some personnel of the U.S. military stationed at the Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar will be evacuated, noting that the relevant measures are to respond to the "current regional tensions".

Recently, protests have erupted in multiple locations across Iran, accompanied by riots that have resulted in casualties. In recent days, U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened military intervention in the Iranian situation. On the 13th, Trump posted on social media that he had canceled all meetings with Iranian officials, claiming that "reinforcements are on the way". For its part, Iran has also been conducting diplomatic activities to gain support. On the 13th, the Permanent Mission of Iran to the United Nations posted on social media that the U.S. is plotting a "regime change" in Iran, and its usual tactics include imposing sanctions, making threats, orchestrating unrest and chaos, so as to fabricate excuses for military intervention.

Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, January 15 - According to information released by the 24-hour flight radar website, Iran issued a notice to airmen stating that it would temporarily close its airspace at 6:15 Beijing time on the 15th, only allowing international flights with official permission to enter and exit Iran. The flight ban is expected to last more than two hours.

**Source**: Huanqiu Wang

**Original Titles**: *U.S. Media Exclusive: Amid Escalating Tensions, Pentagon Deploys Aircraft Carrier Strike Group to the Middle East* and *Iran Announces Temporary Closure of Its Airspace*

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