Tel Aviv: In a show of support for Israel and a warning to Iran, the US announced on Tuesday that it has deployed a nuclear-powered submarine in the Persian Gulf. The US Central Command (CENTCOM) posted a tweet about this, saying that the Ohio-class submarine, which can operate on nuclear energy, has been sent to the Persian Gulf region. The tweet also included a photo of the submarine sailing through the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow waterway that connects the Persian Gulf and the Arabian Sea.
According to US defense officials, the submarine, named USS Florida, is powered by nuclear reactors but does not carry nuclear weapons. It is one of the four US Navy submarines that have been converted to carry Tomahawk land-attack cruise missiles and special operations forces, such as Navy SEALs. The Tomahawk missiles can strike targets up to 1,600 kilometers away, while the Navy SEALs can conduct covert missions on land or sea. Florida can carry up to 154 Tomahawk missiles or 66 Navy SEAL commandos, depending on the mission.
Florida’s arrival is part of the Defense Department’s efforts to deter Iran from launching proxy attacks on Israel or escalating its aggression against US forces in Iraq and Syria. Iran has been accused of supporting militant groups such as Hezbollah and Hamas, which have fired rockets at Israel in recent weeks, sparking a violent conflict that killed hundreds of people. Iran has also been blamed for carrying out attacks on US military bases and personnel in Iraq and Syria, using drones, rockets, and roadside bombs.
This is the second time this year that Florida has been deployed in the Persian Gulf, a strategic region that is home to about 40% of the world’s oil production. In April, it was deployed in the Mediterranean Sea and a picture of it was released, showing that it was heading towards the Red Sea via the Suez Canal. The Suez Canal is a vital waterway that connects the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea, allowing ships to travel between Europe and Asia without having to go around Africa.
The US Navy has also deployed two aircraft carrier strike groups in the eastern Mediterranean, namely USS Gerald R. Ford and USS Dwight D. Eisenhower. Last week, they conducted joint operations, including exchanging aircraft from their decks, launching missiles, and conducting air defense exercises. Additionally, the Navy’s Fifth Fleet, which is responsible for naval operations in the Persian Gulf, said last week that it had conducted the first launch of a weapon from one of its unmanned drones in its Task Force 59, which now patrols the Gulf, using remote control. The drone, called MQ-9B Sea Guardian, can carry up to four Hellfire missiles and can fly for up to 40 hours.
The US military moves come amid rising tensions with Iran over its nuclear program and its regional influence. The US and its allies have accused Iran of secretly developing nuclear weapons, while Iran has insisted that its nuclear activities are for peaceful purposes. The US and Iran have been engaged in indirect talks to revive the 2015 nuclear deal, which was abandoned by former US President Donald Trump in 2018. The deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), aimed to limit Iran’s nuclear capabilities in exchange for sanctions relief. However, the talks have faced several challenges and delays, as both sides have demanded concessions from each other.
