A US aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln along with three other supporting warships have arrived in the Middle East, renewing a potential threat that US President Donald Trump could opt for military action against Iran over its crackdown on protesters.

In a social media post on Monday, the US Central Command said the USS Abraham Lincoln along with three destroyers, “is currently deployed to the Middle East to promote regional security and stability.” The deployment of the aircraft carrier also indicates President Trump’s capabilities to defend US forces.

Sailors aboard USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) perform routine maintenance as the aircraft carrier sails in the Indian Ocean, Jan. 26. The Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group is currently deployed to the Middle East to promote regional security and stability.