The United States reported this Thursday that the USS Gerald Ford, the largest in its fleet and providing support from the Red Sea in the conflict with Iran, suffered a fire that injured two crew members and has been contained, but was not related to the war. "Additional information will be provided when available," added the command, responsible for Army operations in the Middle East. The United States indicated that the carrier continues to be "fully operational" and did not suffer damage to its propulsion system, so it will be able to continue supporting operations against Iran. The USS Gerald Ford is the world's largest aircraft carrier; it is 337 meters long, displaces about 100,000 tons thanks to its two nuclear reactors, and can carry more than 75 aircraft on board. In addition to the USS Gerald Ford, Washington also has the USS Abraham Lincoln deployed in the region, which is in the Arabian Sea. Both carriers are accompanied by their respective naval battle groups. US and Israeli bombings against Iran continue for a second consecutive week, while Iran's new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, threatened to continue attacking US bases in the region and keeping the Strait of Hormuz closed, through which 20% of the world's oil passes. Mojtaba Khamenei is the son of Ali Khamenei, and was elected ayatollah after his father Ali Khamenei was assassinated in the first Israeli and American attacks. In this regard, US Energy Secretary Chris Wright stated this Thursday that his country's Navy is not yet ready to escort tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, and that the military focus is on destroying Iran's offensive capabilities and defense industry. "On March 12, the USS Gerald Ford suffered a fire that originated in the ship's main laundry," said US Central Command (Centcom) in a statement. "Two sailors are receiving medical treatment for injuries that are not life-threatening and are in stable condition. The cause of the fire was not related to combat and has been contained."
