USS George H.W. Bush Strike Group Arrives Near Iran (3rd Carrier); Pentagon Seizes Iranian Oil Tanker; Araghchi Travels to Islamabad for Indirect Talks

The USS George H.W. Bush carrier strike group arrived in waters near Iran on April 24, making it the third US carrier deployed in the region since the war began February 28 — a significant escalation of naval presence. The Pentagon simultaneously announced the seizure of a second oil tanker carrying Iranian crude in the Indian Ocean, part of an intensifying maritime interdiction campaign targeting Iranian oil exports. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi traveled to Islamabad for what US and Pakistani officials described as potential indirect talks through Pakistani mediators — the Iranian delegation was not expected to meet US representatives directly. Pakistani PM Shehbaz Sharif continued his diplomatic brokering role. Defense Secretary Hegseth reiterated the naval blockade of Iranian ports would last 'as long as it takes.' US military planners were reported to be developing new targeting options against Iranian civilian energy infrastructure — including power plants and bridges — if the ceasefire collapsed. As of April 24, the US Navy had forced 31+ vessels to turn back from Iranian ports since the blockade order on April 13. WTI crude held near $88–90/barrel, with markets focused on whether the Islamabad track would yield a framework agreement.