The US sails to the Middle East in a show of force against Iran with a missile-capable submarine

The US Navy has launched a submarine capable of transporting a large payload of missiles to the Middle East in an apparent warning to Iran.

The nuclear submarine is deployed with the US 5th Fleet, which has a patrol covering the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, the Red Sea and the Suez Canal.

“It can carry up to 154 Tomahawk land-attack cruise missiles and is deployed with the U.S. 5th Fleet to help ensure regional maritime security and stability,” said Cmdr. Timothy Hawkins.

IRAN RESPECTS TRUMP’S THREAT TO KILL POMPEO FOR DEATH OF SOLEIMANI IN ANNOUNCEMENT OF LONG-RANGE CRUISE MISSILES

US-Iran relations have deteriorated further in recent years after former President Donald Trump successfully ordered the killing of Iran’s top military commander, Qasem Soleimani – as well as his decision to end a deal that lifted sanctions on the Iran in exchange for a reduction in the development of nuclear weapons.

Iran’s increased aggression also extends to US allies – namely the UK and Israel – who, along with the US, have reported unusual aggression and even attacks by Iranian forces.

Iran has denied the reports.

US naval forces help UK seize “anti-tank guided missiles” from Iran

In February, Iran has threatened again to target Trump and senior members of his former cabinet, including former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, for the 2020 assassination of Soleimani.

“God willing, we want to kill Trump [and] Pompeo … and military commanders who gave the order should be killed,” Amir Ali Hajizadeh, head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Aerospace Force, told Iranian state television.

Iran says new long-range cruise missile can hit US ships within 1,000 miles

Last month, American Naval Forces teamed up with British colleagues to seize “anti-tank guided missiles” and missile components from a boat that had been imported from Iran.

The joint operation, in which the US provided “airborne reconnaissance, surveillance and reconnaissance for a UK-operated interdiction in the Gulf of Oman,” took place on February 23.

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Iran has expanded its missile program in recent years and reportedly increased defensive weapons to resist the West following the collapse of the nuclear arms treaty.

While Western officials are concerned about Iran’s growing weapons programs, they also urged caution when it comes to the viability of Iran’s capabilities, including in November when the Pentagon said it was skeptical of Hajizadeh’s claims that Iran had added hypersonic ballistic missile to its inventories.

Fox News’ Caitlin McFall and Greg Norman contributed to this report.