The United States is redeploying the USS Gerald R. Ford to the Middle East, where it will join the USS Abraham Lincoln, as President Donald Trump increases pressure on Iran over its nuclear programme.
The move will place two US carrier strike groups in the region, signalling that Washington is keeping military options open while urging Tehran to quickly reach a negotiated agreement. Trump recently threatened that failure to strike a deal would be “very traumatic” and said any agreement should be concluded within weeks following indirect talks held in Oman.
The Ford, considered the world’s most advanced aircraft carrier, carries up to 75 aircraft, uses the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System, and is powered by nuclear reactors that allow it to operate for decades without refuelling.
Its deployment comes after months at sea and follows earlier US military positioning tied to operations involving the kidnapping of President Nicolás Maduro in Venezuela.
Meanwhile, Iran faces renewed domestic unrest after a violent crackdown on nationwide protests that began in late December, with thousands reported killed or detained.
Analysts warn that if hostilities escalate, Tehran could target US bases, Israel, or vital oil routes such as the Strait of Hormuz, raising fears of broader regional conflict.
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