Iranian vessels carrying arms shipments to rebels that are fighting the United States-backed government of Yemen will find quite an obstacle very soon in the form of the U.S. Navy’s aircraft carrier the USS Theodore Roosevelt, according to the Pentagon Monday.

Officials in Washington have announced that the Nimitz-class warship has moved off the coast of Yemen and in position to intercept the weapons.

The guided-missile cruiser the USS Normandy is accompanying the Roosevelt.

The Pentagon admitted that while the strategic maneuver is not to be taken lightly, it’s also not necessarily the first move in a serious conflict.

More from the USA Today:

Col. Steve Warren, a Pentagon spokesman, said the carrier and ships supporting her had been in the Persian Gulf. They moved to the waters near Yemen because of increased instability there, he said.

 

The Roosevelt is also tracking a convoy of Iranian ships headed to the Gulf of Aden, said two Defense officials speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly about the Iranian vessels. The Iranians have been supporting Houthi rebels in Yemen.

 

The Roosevelt began steaming toward Yemen Sunday, said a Navy official who was not authorized to speak about the issue publicly. With the Roosevelt, the Navy now has nine warships off Yemen, the Navy official said. The Navy usually has amphibious ships for landing troops and gear in the region. The Roosevelt “significantly” adds to the Navy’s firepower there.