The US has sent an aircraft carrier to the Middle East to give a “clear and unmistakable message” to Iran.

John Bolton, US national security advisor, said they were acting “in response to a number of troubling and escalatory indications and warnings”.

The deployment of the warship was based on claims of a possible attack on US forces, Reuters news agency reports, quoting an unnamed US official.

Mr Bolton added that they would counter any attack with “unrelenting force”.

In a statement, Mr Bolton said: “The United States is deploying the USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group and a bomber task force to the US Central Command region to send a clear and unmistakeable message to the Iranian regime that any attack on United States interests or on those of our allies will be met with unrelenting force.”

He added: “The United States is not seeking war with the Iranian regime. But we are fully prepared to respond to any attack, whether by proxy, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps or regular Iranian forces.”

The ship was already in Europe for war games with US allies that have been taking place since the end of April.