It was never designed to a full-scale carrier. The Soviets built it to be a missile cruiser that could carry STOVL aircraft, so the overall layout of the ship was never aimed for heavy-duty operations.
I think carriers are obsolete. I think any country with any real power, can sink them fast. I think Iran knows how to. Our Navy doctrine is too carrier centralized. Check out Millennium Challenger 2002, what a cluster!