<p>The US reversed a decision to bring an aircraft carrier home from the Gulf Sunday, with the Pentagon saying that due to "recent threats" by Iran the USS Nimitz would stay in position.</p>.<p>The Nimitz has been patrolling Gulf waters since late November, but in a statement issued on December 31, acting US defense secretary Christopher C. Miller ordered the vessel to "transit directly home to complete a nearly 10-month deployment."</p>.<p>The New York Times, quoting US officials, said this move was part of a "de-escalatory" signal to Tehran to avoid a conflict in President Donald Trump's last days in office.</p>.<p>However, Miller issued a new statement changing course on Sunday.</p>.<p>"Due to the recent threats issued by Iranian leaders against President Trump and other U.S. government officials, I have ordered the USS Nimitz to halt its routine redeployment," he said.</p>.<p>"The USS Nimitz will now remain on station in the US Central Command area of operations. No one should doubt the resolve of the United States of America."</p>.<p>He did not elaborate on the threats involved.</p>.<p>His statement came one year after a US drone strike in Baghdad killed Iran's revered commander Qasem Soleimani and his Iraqi lieutenant Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis.</p>.<p>Thousands of Iraqi mourners chanted "revenge" and "no to America" on Sunday.</p>.<p>The anniversary of the Baghdad drone strike was also marked in recent days across Iran and by supporters in Syria, Lebanon, Yemen and elsewhere.</p>.<p>Trump unilaterally withdrew the US from a landmark nuclear deal with Iran and world powers in 2018 and launched a "maximum pressure" campaign against Tehran, reimposing and reinforcing crippling sanctions.</p>.<p>The two countries have twice come to the brink of war since June 2019, especially following the killing of Soleimani.</p>.<p>Days after the Soleimani assassination, Iran launched a volley of missiles at Iraqi bases housing US and other coalition troops, with Trump refraining from any further military response.</p>
<p>The US reversed a decision to bring an aircraft carrier home from the Gulf Sunday, with the Pentagon saying that due to "recent threats" by Iran the USS Nimitz would stay in position.</p>.<p>The Nimitz has been patrolling Gulf waters since late November, but in a statement issued on December 31, acting US defense secretary Christopher C. Miller ordered the vessel to "transit directly home to complete a nearly 10-month deployment."</p>.<p>The New York Times, quoting US officials, said this move was part of a "de-escalatory" signal to Tehran to avoid a conflict in President Donald Trump's last days in office.</p>.<p>However, Miller issued a new statement changing course on Sunday.</p>.<p>"Due to the recent threats issued by Iranian leaders against President Trump and other U.S. government officials, I have ordered the USS Nimitz to halt its routine redeployment," he said.</p>.<p>"The USS Nimitz will now remain on station in the US Central Command area of operations. No one should doubt the resolve of the United States of America."</p>.<p>He did not elaborate on the threats involved.</p>.<p>His statement came one year after a US drone strike in Baghdad killed Iran's revered commander Qasem Soleimani and his Iraqi lieutenant Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis.</p>.<p>Thousands of Iraqi mourners chanted "revenge" and "no to America" on Sunday.</p>.<p>The anniversary of the Baghdad drone strike was also marked in recent days across Iran and by supporters in Syria, Lebanon, Yemen and elsewhere.</p>.<p>Trump unilaterally withdrew the US from a landmark nuclear deal with Iran and world powers in 2018 and launched a "maximum pressure" campaign against Tehran, reimposing and reinforcing crippling sanctions.</p>.<p>The two countries have twice come to the brink of war since June 2019, especially following the killing of Soleimani.</p>.<p>Days after the Soleimani assassination, Iran launched a volley of missiles at Iraqi bases housing US and other coalition troops, with Trump refraining from any further military response.</p>