India, China appear to mend fences as direct flights resume
India and China have resumed direct commercial flights for the first time in five years, marking a cautious thaw in relations between the two Asian gi...
The USS Nimitz is heading to the Middle East amid tensions between Israel and Iran. The U.S. aircraft carrier has a decades-long history in the region, from the 1979 hostage crisis to modern deployments, often serving as a key asset during periods of rising friction with Iran.
The USS Nimitz (CVN-68), one of the United States Navy’s longest-serving aircraft carriers, is once again en route to the Middle East. Its current deployment takes place amid a period of heightened tension following direct military exchanges between Iran and Israel. While the redeployment is being described as a precautionary measure, the Nimitz's presence in this region carries historical resonance. The carrier has played a recurring role in U.S. operations involving Iran for nearly five decades.
The Nimitz entered service in May 1975 and was first deployed to the Indian Ocean in September 1979, shortly after the Islamic Revolution in Iran. This followed the seizure of 52 American hostages in Tehran. In April 1980, the carrier served as a launch platform for Operation Eagle Claw, the United States’ failed attempt to rescue the hostages held at the U.S. embassy. Although the mission was ultimately aborted due to equipment failure and a tragic accident in the Iranian desert, it marked the Nimitz’s earliest operational involvement with Iran and underlined the emerging role of naval aviation in crisis response.
During the final phase of the Iran–Iraq War in the late 1980s, the Nimitz was once again present in the Gulf region. In 1988, it participated in Operation Earnest Will, which aimed to protect Kuwaiti oil tankers that had been reflagged under the U.S. flag. These missions were part of broader efforts to ensure the safety of commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz at a time when attacks on maritime vessels were escalating.
In the aftermath of the 1991 Gulf War, the Nimitz returned to the region to support Operation Southern Watch, which enforced a no-fly zone over southern Iraq. Although Iraq was the primary focus of this mission, the broader strategic context included maintaining a U.S. presence near Iran, whose regional role remained a point of concern for American policymakers.
Throughout the 2000s and 2010s, the Nimitz made regular deployments to the Arabian Gulf in support of U.S. operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. These missions also served a secondary purpose—reassuring allies and deterring potential threats in a region marked by complex security dynamics. Transit through the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway of global economic significance, remained a consistent part of the ship’s operational profile.
A more acute phase of tension emerged in early 2020 after a U.S. airstrike killed Iranian General Qassem Soleimani. In response, the Nimitz was deployed to the region amid concerns over possible Iranian retaliation. At that time, the carrier operated alongside other U.S. naval assets, signaling an increased level of preparedness while avoiding direct confrontation.
The 2025 redeployment of the Nimitz comes amid an unprecedented escalation in hostilities between Iran and Israel. Although the United States has not declared its intention to participate in the conflict, the presence of the Nimitz and its strike group introduces a flexible and capable platform for surveillance, logistical support, and if necessary, military response. U.S. officials have described the move as a deterrent measure, aimed at ensuring the security of American forces in the region and maintaining freedom of navigation in international waters.
Over the course of its nearly fifty-year career, the USS Nimitz has become more than a military asset; it has come to represent a constant and mobile extension of U.S. foreign policy in regions of high strategic importance. Its repeated deployments near Iran underscore the enduring complexities of U.S.–Iran relations and the central role that maritime power continues to play in regional stability.
At least 69 people have died and almost 150 injured following a powerful 6.9-magnitude earthquake off the coast of Cebu City in the central Visayas region of the Philippines, officials said, making it one of the country’s deadliest disasters this year.
A tsunami threat was issued in Chile after a magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck the Drake Passage on Friday. The epicenter was located 135 miles south of Puerto Williams on the north coast of Navarino Island.
The war in Ukraine has reached a strategic impasse, and it seems that the conflict will not be solved by military means. This creates a path toward one of two alternatives: either a “frozen” phase that can last indefinitely or a quest for a durable political regulation.
A shooting in Nice, southeastern France, left two people dead and five injured on Friday, authorities said.
Snapchat will start charging users who store more than 5GB of photos and videos in its Memories feature, prompting backlash from long-time users.
Armenia’s foreign minister says the presidents of Azerbaijan and Türkiye have been verbally invited to attend the 8th European Political Community summit due in Yerevan next spring.
Iran's Minister of Road and Urban Development Farzaneh Sadegh has said that Iran and Russia are scheduled to sign a railway agreement next month in Moscow.
Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan has dismissed debate over who benefits more from recent agreements with Azerbaijan, calling the talks a mutual gain.
The U23 World Championship held in Novi Sad, Serbia, is nearing its conclusion. According to Azertag, two members of Azerbaijan’s freestyle wrestling team competed in the final bouts.
Israeli protesters gathered in Tel Aviv on Saturday (October 25), urging the government to finalise the hostage deal and secure the return of the remaining deceased captives held in Gaza.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment