U.S. has two carriers in Persian Gulf

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DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, April 9 (UPI) -- The USS Enterprise joined the USS Abraham Lincoln to help patrol the Persian Gulf and U.S. naval officials said no signs of aggression had been noted.

Officials with the U.S. 5th Fleet said the Enterprise and Carrier Strike Group 12, a group of battle-ready ships, arrived in the region last week, the Khaleej Times reported.

Cmdr. Amy Derrick-Frost, a 5th Fleet spokeswoman, said operations were normal in the region and no sign of aggression from the Iranian navy had been observed.

"All maritime interactions with Iranian naval forces continue to be routine and professional," she said.

Earlier this year, Iran had threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz, through which 20 percent of the world's oil exports move, in retaliation for sanctions against the Islamic republic over its nuclear program.

"The presence of two aircraft carriers fluctuates, based on needs and requirements set by the combatant commander and approved by the joint staff and the secretary of defense, and ensures the U.S. military has naval and air capabilities to support operations requirements while adequately meeting other security commitments in the region," Derrick-Frost said in a statement.

The 5th Fleet is responsible for naval forces in the Persian Gulf, Red Sea, Arabian Sea and along the coast off East Africa.