The USS Abraham Lincoln is undergoing a massive endurance test during Operation Epic Fury. It must overcome maintenance issues and crew fatigue to maintain deterrence against Iran.

'Endurance test': How long the USS Abraham Lincoln can stay deployed against Iran

US forces intercepted 101 Iranian missiles aimed at the USS Abraham Lincoln. While Iran claimed strikes forced a 1,000-kilometre retreat, CENTCOM confirmed the carrier is 100 per cent operational.

'Defensive victory': How the USS Abraham Lincoln survived 101 missiles from Iran

The USS Abraham Lincoln strike group conducts constant overwatch 500 miles off Iran. F-35C jets launch from its deck to intercept hostile drones, gather intelligence, and protect global shipping.

'Overwatch': How the US is monitoring Iran from the flight deck of the USS Abraham Lincoln

The US military is sending thousands of elite Marines, historically known as ‘Devil Dogs’ for their fierce combat legacy, to the Middle East, signalling a major operation ahead.


'Devil dogs at war': Why the US is deploying elite marines to the Middle East

The US F-35 stealth jet poses a greater strategic threat to Iran than traditional aircraft carriers. Its radar-evading design, Mach 1.6 speed, and 8,160 kg payload allow it to bypass advanced defences and strike critical targets without warning.

'Invisible assassin': Why Iran’s military fears the US F-35 more than any aircraft carrier

The USS Spruance acts as the primary shield for the 100,000-tonne USS Abraham Lincoln in the Arabian Sea. The destroyer uses advanced missiles and helicopters to neutralise surface and aerial threats.

'The frontline escort': How USS Spruance takes the lead for USS Abraham Lincoln

The USS Spruance uses its Aegis Combat System to cast an invisible radar dome over the USS Abraham Lincoln. This advanced 360-degree shield tracks and destroys incoming missiles.

'The Aegis umbrella': How the USS Spruance creates invisible radar dome over the USS Abraham Lincoln

The 100,000-tonne USS Abraham Lincoln relies on two advanced A4W nuclear reactors for infinite electricity. This immense atomic power allows the supercarrier to operate globally for 25 years without refuelling its engines.

‘2 Nuclear Reactors’: Why the USS Abraham Lincoln never runs out of electricity

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar held a “detailed conversation” with Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Tuesday (March 10) regarding the evolving situation in West Asia, as tensions in the region continue to intensify. Following the call, Jaishankar said both sides discussed the latest developments related to the ongoing conflict and agreed to maintain close communication.&nbsp;“A detailed conversation this evening with Foreign Minister Araghchi of Iran on the latest developments regarding the ongoing conflict. We agreed to remain in touch,” Jaishankar wrote on X.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">A detailed conversation this evening with Foreign Minister <a href="https://twitter.com/araghchi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@araghchi</a> of Iran on the latest developments regarding the ongoing conflict. We agreed to remain in touch.&mdash; Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) <a href="https://twitter.com/DrSJaishankar/status/2031419210006671840?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 10, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The recent call between Jaishankar and his Iranian counterpart marks the third such conversation since the start of the war on February 28, after the United States and Israel launched a joint military operation against the Islamic Republic targeting top leadership and strategic locations, resulting in the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on the first day of the attack.&nbsp;The first call between the two ministers was held on the day (Feb 28) the joint US-Israeli strikes began. Jaishankar expressed India’s “deep concern” regarding the developments and the potential for regional escalation.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/india-eases-fdi-norms-for-china-other-countries-sharing-land-borders-1773157771931">India eases FDI norms for China, other countries sharing land borders</a>&nbsp;The second call occurred on March 5, following the death of the Supreme Leader. During this call, the Iranian Foreign Minister expressed his country's thanks for India's “humane gesture” in allowing the Iranian vessel IRIS Lavan to dock in Kochi due to technical issues.&nbsp;In a suo motu statement to both Houses of Parliament on March 9 regarding the West Asia situation, Jaishankar said, “The government has maintained close contact with the relevant countries. Prime Minister has personally spoken to the President of the UAE, the Amir of Qatar, the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, the Crown Prince of Kuwait, the King of Bahrain, the Sultan of Oman, the King of Jordan, and the Prime Minister of Israel. In each case, we received assurances that the well-being of the Indian community will be the priority for the host government.”&nbsp;On the issue of the Iranian ship docked at Kochi, the External Affairs Minister stated, “The Iranian side requested permission on 28 February for three ships in the region to dock at our ports. This was accorded on 01 March. IRIS LAVAN actually docked on 04 March in Kochi. The crew is currently in Indian naval facilities. We believe that this was the right thing to do, and the Iranian Foreign Minister has expressed his country’s thanks for this humane gesture.”&nbsp;(Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, US, Gulf nations and non-state actors like Hezbollah, Hamas, Houthis, Islamic State, and others. Claims and counterclaims, disinformation and misinformation are being made online and offline. Given this context, WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos and videos.)

The first call between the two ministers was held on the day (Feb 28) the joint US-Israeli strikes began. Jaishankar expressed India’s “deep concern” regarding the developments and the potential for regional escalation.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar held a “detailed conversation” with Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Tuesday (March 10) regarding the evolving situation in West Asia, as tensions in the region continue to intensify. Following the call, Jaishankar said both sides discussed the latest developments related to the ongoing conflict and agreed to maintain close communication. “A detailed conversation this evening with Foreign Minister Araghchi of Iran on the latest developments regarding the ongoing conflict. We agreed to remain in touch,” Jaishankar wrote on X.

The first call between the two ministers was held on the day (Feb 28) the joint US-Israeli strikes began. Jaishankar expressed India’s “deep concern” regarding the developments and the potential for regional escalation.

Jaishankar holds ‘detailed conversation’ with Iranian counterpart, third call since West Asia war began

 Israel used the Blue Sparrow missile in February 2026. As the Middle East conflict expands, it remains highly unpredictable if another strike will occur to end the ongoing war with Iran.

Will Israel fire another Blue Sparrow missile to end the war with Iran?

Powered by two nuclear reactors and 260,000 horsepower, the 100,000-tonne USS Abraham Lincoln uses massive 30-tonne propellers to sustain 30-knot speeds, enabling rapid global deployment.

A 100,000-tonne beast: How the USS Abraham Lincoln still moves at 30 knots while fully loaded

The USS Abraham Lincoln leads US naval operations in the Middle East amid the war with Iran. With Washington demanding total surrender, the nuclear-powered carrier and its strike group are expected to remain stationed in the region indefinitely.

Will the USS Abraham Lincoln stay in the Middle East until Iran surrenders?

Reports state Israel used the 2,000-km range Blue Sparrow missile to strike Iran because it keeps fighter jets safely outside enemy airspace. Its hypersonic vertical drop evades radar, making it far superior to slow, heavy bombs.

Why Israel chose the Blue Sparrow missile over traditional heavy bombs for its strikes on Iran

Israel's Blue Sparrow missile hits targets from 2,000 kilometres away without internet. It uses a built-in Inertial Navigation System to calculate speed and direction, ensuring precise strikes even when enemy forces jam GPS and external signals.

Why Israel's Blue Sparrow missile needs no internet to find its target

Unit 8200 used years of cyber surveillance to track Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Hacked networks helped the 2,000 km range Blue Sparrow missile bypass his deep Tehran bunker in a fatal daylight strike.

'The cyber connection': How Unit 8200 helped the Blue Sparrow missile find Ayatollah Ali Khamenei

The Blue Sparrow missile flies to the edge of space and drops vertically at extreme speeds. This unique top-down trajectory blinds conventional radars, leaving air defences with no time to intercept.

Why Israel's Blue Sparrow missile gave Iran almost zero time to react

F-15 fighter jets launch the 1.9-tonne Blue Sparrow missile to the edge of space. Its quasi-ballistic, vertical descent at supersonic speeds makes it nearly invisible to conventional air defence radars, ensuring pinpoint precision strikes.

Which Israeli fighter jet can launch Blue Sparrow missiles?

Iran’s security chief Ali Larijani claimed several US soldiers were captured, accusing Washington of hiding the truth. CENTCOM rejected the allegation as false. With casualties mounting and tensions escalating, the ongoing US–Iran conflict continues to intensify across the region.

'American soldiers captured': Iran makes BIG claim amid raging war with US, Israel; CENTCOM says...

Trump said he sees no signs of Russia aiding Iran, while the Kremlin confirmed Tehran has not sought military help. However, reports claim Moscow may have shared intelligence on US positions. Washington downplayed Russia and China’s role as tensions around the conflict continue.

'Not doing a very good job': Trump breaks silence on reports of Russian help to Iran amid escalating war

Israel's Blue Sparrow missile evades air defences by travelling to the edge of space. It drops vertically at hypersonic speeds, bypassing radars with zero reaction time.

Why traditional air defenses are useless against Israel's Blue Sparrow missile

Saudi Arabia's air defence uses a multi-layered network to stop drones and missiles. The $78 billion military budget funds American THAAD and Patriot interceptors, South Korean KM-SAM systems, and Chinese anti-drone laser technology.

‘$80+ billion sky shield’: How Saudi Arabia’s air defence is intercepting and stopping Iranian missiles

President Donald Trump on Monday (Mar 02) said the United States "continues to carry out large-scale combat operations" in Iran and stated our aims are clear: first, destroying Tehran's missile capabilities," second, &nbsp;preventing the Islamic Republic from making nuclear weapons and third, "ensuring it cannot fund or direct armies outside its borders"&nbsp;He further said Washington acted on 'last best chance' to hit the Islamic Republic and claimed that "we are 'substantially ahead' of timeline in Iran war adding that "We projected four to five weeks", but the United States is able to "fight Iran war far beyond 4-5 weeks."&nbsp;"We're already substantially ahead of our time projections," Trump said at the White House, adding: “From the beginning, we projected four to five weeks, but we have capability to go far longer than that. We'll do it.”&nbsp;The president stated that, “We warned Iran not to rebuild at a different location” after we blew up nuclear facilities in Operation Midnight Hammer in June 2025, but they went ahead, Trump claimed, adding that "an Iran with nuclear weapons would be intolerable to the US". &nbsp;These statements come after US-Israeli operations in Iran entered its third day on Monday after assassinating Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a precision strike on a high-security compound in Tehran. Several other top leaders were also killed after the US and Israel launched a massive coordinated aerial campaign on Saturday.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-will-defend-our-six-thousand-year-old-civilisation-iran-ready-for-long-war-with-the-us-israel-1772461387076">'Will defend our six-thousand-year-old civilisation': Iran ready for 'long war' with the US-Israel</a>&nbsp;The strikes, codenamed Operation Roaring Lion by Israel and Operation Epic Fury by the United States, targeted government buildings, military installations, and suspected nuclear facilities, while aiming specifically to decapitate the highest levels of Iranian leadership.&nbsp;In retaliation, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard launched strikes on Israel, US military bases and its allies across West Asia, including Qatar, Iraq, UAE, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Jordan.&nbsp;After a series of attacks and counterattacks, the conflict in West Asia expanded beyond the region after the Iranian military struck a British military base in Cyprus and a French naval base known as Camp de la Paix in Abu Dhabi, risking participation of major European countries, including France, the UK and Germany, who vowed to protect their interests in the region.&nbsp; &nbsp;(Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, US, Gulf nations and non-state actors like Hezbollah, Hamas, Houthis, Islamic State, and others. Claims and counterclaims, disinformation and misinformation are being made online and offline. Given this context, WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos and videos.)

Trump said that the US attack on Iran is meeting its goals ahead of schedule, but also warned the war could go "far longer" than his initial estimates of about a month.

President Donald Trump on Monday (Mar 02) said the United States "continues to carry out large-scale combat operations" in Iran and stated our aims are clear: first, destroying Tehran's missile capabilities," second, preventing the Islamic Republic from making nuclear weapons and third, "ensuring it cannot fund or direct armies outside its borders" He further said Washington acted on 'last best chance' to hit the Islamic Republic and claimed that "we are 'substantially ahead' of timeline in Iran war adding that "We projected four to five weeks", but the United States is able to "fight Iran war far beyond 4-5 weeks." "We're already substantially ahead of our time projections," Trump said at the White House, adding: “From the beginning, we projected four to five weeks, but we have capability to go far longer than that. We'll do it.” The president stated that, “We warned Iran not to rebuild at a different location” after we blew up nuclear facilities in Operation Midnight Hammer in June 2025, but they went ahead, Trump claimed, adding that "an Iran with nuclear weapons would be intolerable to the US". These statements come after US-Israeli operations in Iran entered its third day on Monday after assassinating Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a precision strike on a high-security compound in Tehran. Several other top leaders were also killed after the US and Israel launched a massive coordinated aerial campaign on Saturday. Also Read: 'Will defend our six-thousand-year-old civilisation': Iran ready for 'long war' with the US-Israel The strikes, codenamed Operation Roaring Lion by Israel and Operation Epic Fury by the United States, targeted government buildings, military installations, and suspected nuclear facilities, while aiming specifically to decapitate the highest levels of Iranian leadership. In retaliation, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard launched strikes on Israel, US military bases and its allies across West Asia, including Qatar, Iraq, UAE, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Jordan. After a series of attacks and counterattacks, the conflict in West Asia expanded beyond the region after the Iranian military struck a British military base in Cyprus and a French naval base known as Camp de la Paix in Abu Dhabi, risking participation of major European countries, including France, the UK and Germany, who vowed to protect their interests in the region. (Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, US, Gulf nations and non-state actors like Hezbollah, Hamas, Houthis, Islamic State, and others. Claims and counterclaims, disinformation and misinformation are being made online and offline. Given this context, WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos and videos.)

Trump said that the US attack on Iran is meeting its goals ahead of schedule, but also warned the war could go "far longer" than his initial estimates of about a month.

US-Israel-Iran war: Trump says acted on 'last best chance' to hit Iran after failed talks