Trump says US will send second aircraft carrier to Middle East ‘very soon’ | Donald Trump News
Trump Confirms Deployment of USS Gerald R. Ford Amid Rising Tensions with Iran
President Donald Trump announced on Friday that the USS Gerald R. Ford, a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, will soon be deployed to the Middle East. This move comes as the United States seeks to increase pressure on Iran concerning its nuclear and ballistic missile programs.
Speaking from the White House, Trump indicated that the carrier would be departing the Caribbean for the region “very soon,” following recent indirect talks in Oman that have raised concerns of escalating tensions.
“If we need it, we’ll have it ready, a very big force,” Trump said, expressing optimism that negotiations would be “successful.” He warned of severe consequences for Iran if an agreement is not reached, stating, “It would be a bad day for Iran.”
Trump later suggested that a change in the Iranian government would be “the best thing that could happen,” alluding to reports of significant fatalities during Tehran’s crackdown on recent antigovernment protests.
The USS Gerald R. Ford’s deployment is part of a broader military buildup in the region, which has recently included the Abraham Lincoln carrier, guided-missile destroyers, fighter jets, and surveillance aircraft.
Trump’s comments follow a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Washington. Netanyahu expressed hope for a “good deal” but raised concerns that any agreement should also address Iran’s ballistic missile program. Iran has publicly rejected U.S. pressure to discuss this issue.
The recent U.S.-Iran talks were the first since a conflict in June that interrupted negotiations concerning a potential replacement for the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which Trump abandoned during his first term.
The JCPOA initially involved Iran limiting its nuclear program in exchange for relief from sanctions. However, following Trump’s withdrawal from the agreement in 2018, Iran began enriching uranium beyond the agreed-upon limits, while asserting that it is not seeking nuclear weapons.
As negotiations progress, Rafael Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), has faced challenges in securing consent from Iran for inspections of sites connected to the recent military conflict.
Grossi noted that while inspectors have returned to Iran since the June conflict, they have yet to visit sites that were targeted during military actions. He described the dialogue with Iran since inspectors’ return as “imperfect and complicated.”
The impending deployment of the USS Gerald R. Ford signals heightened military readiness in a region already grappling with the impacts of ongoing conflicts, including heightened tensions regarding Israel’s recent military operations in Gaza.
