U.S. aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln. Photo: U.S. Navy.
Tajikistan has expressed serious concern over the escalating situation in the Middle East, particularly around Iran, and has spoken out against any military action, calling instead for the peaceful resolution of all conflicts exclusively through diplomatic means. The statement was published on the website of the Foreign Ministry of the Central Asian republic.
At the same time, Tajikistan urged all parties to adhere to the principles of the United Nations Charter and international law, and to focus their efforts on maintaining peace and stability in the region.
In this way, official Dushanbe responded to the growing military presence of the United States in the Persian Gulf, close to Iran’s shores.
It was reported the day before that the U.S. aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln had arrived in the area. According to experts, the ship can carry up to 90 aircraft and helicopters. The carrier strike group also includes three destroyers armed with Tomahawk missiles.
A number of media outlets have suggested that the U.S. military is prepared to strike the Islamic Republic in response to the harsh suppression of protests that have continued in the country since late last year.
U.S. President Donald Trump, commenting on the movement of the carrier group, said that a “beautiful armada” was approaching Iran’s coast. He added that he hoped to reach a deal with Tehran, without specifying what such an agreement might involve.
ℹ️ Mass protests in Iran began on December 28, 2025, when bazaar traders in Tehran started closing their shops in protest against the threat of bankruptcy. Impoverished entrepreneurs were quickly joined by their customers and then by large numbers of students, the country’s most politically active social group.
The demonstrations emerged in response to an economic crisis. The authorities, however, promoted a narrative of foreign interference, accusing the United States and Israel. Internet access was soon shut down across the country. Despite this, footage appeared online showing the brutality of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as it dispersed protests accompanied by mass arrests.
According to various estimates, the death toll in Iran may have ranged from 4,000 to 30,000 people. According to the government’s official version, however, 3,117 people were killed during the unrest, 690 of whom were described as “terrorists.”
The authorities of the Islamic Republic have also denied claims that around 30,000 people were killed during the mass protests.
At the same time, Tehran announced that it had filed lawsuits with international bodies against the United States, Israel, and a number of terrorist groups, accusing them of supporting and financing subversive activities aimed at undermining Iran’s national security.
