article_snippet.sent: The U.S. Navy has sent a nuclear aircraft carrier and a guided-missile cruiser to the waters near Yemen to help beef up security and join other American ships that are prepared to block Iranian shipments.
article_snippet.sent: USS Theodore Roosevelt and USS Normandy are believed to be joining other U.S. ships that are poised to intercept any Iranian ships carrying weapons to  Houthi rebels fighting in Yemen.
article_snippet.sent: The U.S. Navy has been beefing up The U.S. Navy presence in the Gulf of Aden and the Arabian Sea the Arabian Sea amid reports that about eight Iranian ships are heading toward Yemen and possibly carrying arms.
article_snippet.sent: The U.S. Navy officials said there are about nine U.S. warships in the region, including cruisers and destroyers carrying teams that can board and search other vessels.
article_snippet.sent: Navy officials spoke on condition of anonymity because Navy officials were not authorized to discuss the ship movement on the record.
article_snippet.sent: But speaking to Reuters on Monday, a Pentagon spokesman  denied eight Iranian ships were on a mission to intercept Iranian arms shipments.
article_snippet.sent: One U.S. official said the presence of the U.S. warships off Yemen give American decision-makers options for action in the event the situation deteriorates.
article_snippet.sent: the U.S. warships include two destroyers, two mine-sweepers and three amphibious ships carrying 2,200 U.S. Marines.
article_snippet.sent: The U.S. Navy generally conducts consensual boardings of ships when needed, including to combat piracy around Africa and the region.
article_snippet.sent: So far, however, U.S. naval personnel have not boarded any Iranian vessels since the Yemen conflict began.
highlights_snippet.sent: USS Theodore Roosevelt and USS Normandy will join seven other US vessels that are prepared to block Iranian ships potentially carrying weapons for Houthi rebels fighting in Yemen .