Daijiworld Media Network - Riyadh

Riyadh, May 2: The USS Gerald R. Ford has departed the Middle East following its involvement in operations linked to tensions with Iran, according to reports citing a US official.

With the Ford’s exit, two American aircraft carriers — the USS Abraham Lincoln and the USS George H. W. Bush — remain deployed in the region. The Ford’s deployment lasted over 10 months, marking one of the longest missions for a US carrier since the post-Vietnam War era.

During its deployment, the carrier experienced an onboard incident on March 12, when a fire broke out in the laundry area, injuring two sailors, as confirmed by the United States Navy.

The Ford Carrier Strike Group had begun its mission on June 24, 2025, departing from Virginia. Its operations spanned multiple regions, including assignments under the United States European Command, counter-narcotics missions in Latin America, and eventual deployment to the Middle East amid rising tensions with Iran.

Meanwhile, Donald Trump informed lawmakers that the US military campaign against Iran has officially ended, noting that the operation reached its 60-day legal limit without further escalation. He stated that there had been no exchange of fire between the two countries since April 7, 2026, and declared that hostilities, which began on February 28, had concluded.

The timeline aligns with the requirements of the War Powers Resolution, which mandates that military engagements must end within 60 days unless approved by Congress.

Despite the halt in hostilities, Trump indicated that diplomatic efforts remain uncertain. Speaking before boarding Marine One, he expressed dissatisfaction with ongoing proposals from Iran, suggesting that negotiations are complicated by internal divisions within Iran’s leadership.

He remarked that while Iranian officials appear interested in reaching an agreement, disagreements within their leadership structure are hindering progress, potentially weakening their negotiating stance.