A US aircraft carrier strike group enters the Middle East region after Iran’s commander warned the United States that its forces have

The USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier strike group crossed into Central Command, the Middle East region that includes Iran, a U.S. official told News themezone.

The move comes as Iran renewed its warnings on Monday, days after the commander of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard warned that his strength had his “the finger on the trigger” as American warships advanced toward the region.

The strike group is comprised of the Lincoln, an aircraft carrier, and three guided missile destroyers: USS Frank E. Petersen, Jr., USS Spruance, and USS Michael Murphy. Aboard the Lincoln are squadrons of F/A-18E/F Super Hornets, EA-18G Growlers, F-35C fighter jets and MH-60R/S helicopters.

The naval force was not necessarily “in position” Monday morning ET, meaning it was not in its planned final position.

President Trump said Thursday that the United States had a “huge fleet” heading towards Iran “Just in case” he wants to take action, though he added, “maybe we won’t have to use it.”

Trump has repeatedly warned Iranian leaders against killing peaceful protesters (who began protesting in late December in the biggest challenge to the country’s ruling regime in years) and mass execution of people arrested in protests.

Over the weekend, Nournews, a media outlet close to Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, reported on its Telegram channel that General Mohammad Pakpour warned the United States and Israel “to avoid any miscalculations.”

“The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and beloved Iran are more prepared than ever, with their finger on the trigger, to execute the orders and directives of the Commander in Chief,” Pakpour said, The News reported.

On Monday, Iran’s Defense Ministry spokesman, General Reza Talaei-Nik, warned Israel and the United States about any possible attack, saying it would “receive a more painful and more decisive response than in the past.”