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The United States is expanding its military footprint near one of the world’s most critical chokepoints, with satellite imagery confirming the presence of the USS Abraham Lincoln close to Iranian waters. Positioned in the Gulf of Oman, just outside the Strait of Hormuz, the carrier sits within operational range of key global shipping routes. The deployment signals a shift in US strategy focusing not on directly controlling the narrow chokepoint, but on creating a wider maritime buffer zone before vessels even reach it. The move comes amid rising tensions and plans for maritime pressure measures targeting Iranian-linked trade routes. Iran has responded sharply. Officials have criticised the US approach as an escalation that risks targeting the global economy, warning that any disruption around the Strait of Hormuz could have far-reaching consequences beyond the region.