Daijiworld Media Network - Washington
Washington, Feb 13: The United States is set to deploy the world’s largest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford, to the Middle East, bolstering American military presence in the region amid heightened tensions with Iran over its nuclear programme.
A person familiar with the plans, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the carrier’s deployment would place two US aircraft carriers and their accompanying warships in the region. The USS Abraham Lincoln and its guided-missile destroyers are already operating in the Arabian Sea.
The move comes as US President Donald Trump pushes Tehran to reach a deal over its nuclear activities. Trump recently warned that failure to strike an agreement would be “very traumatic” for Iran, adding that a deal should happen “very quickly.”
The deployment of the USS Gerald R. Ford was first reported by The New York Times. The aircraft carrier had earlier been sent from the Mediterranean to the Caribbean last October as part of a military buildup ahead of a surprise raid that resulted in the capture of then-Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
Trump told Axios this week that he was considering sending a second carrier strike group to the Middle East. On Wednesday, he held extensive talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and said he urged Israel to allow negotiations with Iran to continue. Netanyahu has pressed Washington to ensure that any agreement compels Tehran to scale back its ballistic missile programme and end support for militant groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah.
Indirect talks between Iran and the United States were held in Oman last week, though a fresh round of negotiations has yet to materialise. One of Tehran’s top security officials visited Oman and Qatar this week, exchanging messages with US intermediaries.
Gulf Arab nations have warned that any military action could escalate into a broader regional conflict, particularly as the Middle East continues to grapple with the fallout from the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.
At home, Iran is facing renewed internal pressure as families begin observing traditional 40-day mourning ceremonies for those killed in last month’s crackdown on nationwide protests. Videos circulating online show mourners gathering in several cities, including in Razavi Khorasan province, where crowds were seen singing the patriotic song “Ey Iran,” a pre-revolution anthem dating back to the 1940s.
The USS Gerald R. Ford, which began its current deployment in late June 2025, is approaching eight months at sea. It remains unclear how long the carrier will stay in the Middle East, but the move signals a significant show of force as diplomatic efforts continue.
The White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment.