US aircraft carrier Nimitz in Oman: Navy projects power in Middle East
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Satellite imagery shows the USS Nimitz, a nuclear-powered US aircraft carrier, docked in Oman.
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US Navy F-18 Super Hornets and crew members are seen on the flight deck of the USS Nimitz off the coast of Busan, South Korea, Monday, March 27, 2023 (Pool Photo via AP)
New satellite imagery has revealed the USS Nimitz, a nuclear-powered US aircraft carrier, docked at Oman’s port of Duqm on the Arabian Sea.
The vessel, the lead ship of its class, has been operating in the region since June, following the Israeli-instigated war on Iran, which eventually included US airstrikes on Tehran’s nuclear facilities.
The carrier’s presence highlights the US Navy’s ongoing role in projecting power in the Middle East, primarily to shield "Israel". While Palestinians suffer and regional tensions mount, Washington maintains its military foothold, ensuring Israeli interests are defended and reinforcing its influence over local waters and strategic routes.
Diplomatic talks over Iran’s civilian nuclear program remain stalled, and US President Donald Trump has threatened renewed strikes unless Iran halts uranium enrichment.
US-based media outlet Newsweek reached out to the US Central Command (CENTCOM) for comment about the Nimitz's movements, but has yet to publish a response.
Read more: Trump Gaza 'Riviera' plan branded glitzy cover for ethnic cleansing
Broader US Navy presence in the Red Sea, Gulf
According to USNI News, the Nimitz’s deployment is part of a wider US strategy to project naval power. Other vessels in the region include:
- The USS Forrest Sherman, an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer operating in the Red Sea
- The USS Canberra, an Independence-class littoral combat ship in the Persian Gulf
Earlier in August, the Nimitz made a historic port call in Bahrain, the first visit by a US aircraft carrier in five years. It has also been spotted near the Strait of Hormuz, escorted by the destroyers USS Gridley and USS Lenah Sutcliffe Higbee.
Open-source analyst MT Anderson, who first observed the imagery on X, noted the unusual lack of publicity, saying, “Given the ongoing tensions with the Houthis, was this a deliberate low-profile port call? She was in Bahrain less than a month ago; could there be maintenance issues? Time will tell …”
Meanwhile, according to USNI News, CENTCOM and the US Navy described the Nimitz Carrier Strike Group’s activities as “routine operations in the North Arabian Sea.”
🔎🇺🇸The Ghost Carrier (CVN-68) in the Middle East
— MT Anderson (@MT_Anderson) September 3, 2025
Sentinel-2 imagery from Sep 1 shows the USS Nimitz (CVN-68) in port in Duqm, Oman
What's unusual is the lack of any official or unofficial news
Given the ongoing tensions with the Houthis, was this a deliberate low-profile port… pic.twitter.com/yihTPWE6gJ
The deployment of the USS Nimitz and its escorting vessels is framed as “securing sea lanes,” but in reality, it serves US and Israeli strategic interests, not regional safety. Far from protecting commerce, Washington’s military presence enforces control over the waters while intimidating local actors, turning critical sea routes into tools of power projection rather than neutral security.
