The United States is reinforcing its military deployments in the Middle East amid escalating tensions with Iran, according to multiple reports.

More than a dozen F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jets departed the United Kingdom on January 18 en route to the Middle East, accompanied by C-17 Globemaster III transport aircraft, reports said. The U.S. Central Command confirmed on January 20 that F-15E aircraft had been deployed to the region.

Open-source flight tracking data and recent U.S. military disclosures indicate that three F-15E squadrons are now stationed in the Middle East. Additional F-16 fighter jets and A-10 Thunderbolt II attack aircraft are also expected to be deployed.

Meanwhile, the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group is continuing its movement toward the region. U.S. officials, citing maritime tracking data on January 20, said the carrier group had transited the Strait of Malacca with its transponder turned off.

Iran responded on Wednesday with a warning of retaliation. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said any new attack against Iran would be met with a firm response, while stressing that Tehran remains open to reaching a fair agreement. He called on Washington to engage with Iran on the basis of mutual respect.

Iran has faced nationwide protests since late last year, driven by rising prices and currency depreciation. While initially peaceful, some demonstrations escalated into violent unrest, severely disrupting public order in several cities.

Iran's state broadcaster reported on Wednesday, citing a statement from the Supreme National Security Council, that "organized ringleaders of unrest" between December 30 and January 7 diverted peaceful protests into violent acts across multiple cities. The statement alleged that "terrorists" made widespread use of firearms during the unrest, resulting in 3,117 deaths, including 2,427 civilians and law enforcement personnel.

According to the statement, the violence caused extensive damage to public and private property, including markets, shops, banks, mosques, emergency vehicles, public transportation systems, medical facilities, and gas stations.

Iranian officials have repeatedly accused the United States and Israel of instigating and orchestrating the unrest. During the protests, Iran imposed partial internet restrictions. In a recent opinion article published in The Wall Street Journal, Araghchi said that peaceful protests were turned violent due to the involvement of domestic and foreign "terrorists," arguing that restricting internet access was a necessary measure to prevent further escalation.