Centcom chief visits US carrier enforcing Iran blockade amid reports of severe strain on crew

Centcom chief visits US carrier enforcing Iran blockade amid reports of severe strain on crew The head of the United States Central Command (Centcom), Admiral Bradley Cooper, has visited the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier in the Arabian Sea, which is enforcing the US blockade of Iran. His visit came amid reports of severe strain on the carrier's crew, including mental health concerns and supply shortages after an unusually long deployment. "History will record this deployment as one of the most operationally intense and consequential of the modern era," Cooper said on Saturday. The Lincoln has been deployed in the Middle East for more than 250 days without a port call. Read more: Centcom chief visits US carrier enforcing Iran blockade amid reports of severe strain on crew The USS Abraham Lincoln sails in the Arabian Sea on 8 May 2026 (AFP)