Trump has publicly referred to another US aircraft carrier, which partly supports reports of a third carrier group heading for the region. He did not say which ship he meant.
Speaking at a White House briefing on Monday 9 November, Trump said the US was holding a "status quo" posture, Fox News reports. He cited another aircraft carrier "loaded up to the gills", the naval blockade of ports and the land-route operation known as Iron Gate.
"We have the greatest military blockade ever."
Trump said the posture was being maintained at the request of Iran's Gulf neighbours, after meeting Qatar's prime minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani. In a Truth Social post, according to Fox News, he said the US was "locked and loaded" should developments change.
His remarks are on-record confirmation of an additional carrier. They do not confirm Gulf News's report that it is the USS Theodore Roosevelt group, or that the group is moving towards the North Arabian Sea. The ship and its position remain unconfirmed.