US Orders Another Aircraft Carrier Strike Group to the Middle East

The United States plans to deploy the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier strike group to the Middle East to join existing US naval forces in the Arabian Sea, increasing pressure on Iran over its nuclear program. Donald Trump said the move follows stalled talks and warned of serious consequences if no deal is reached.

The United States is making advanced preparations to deploy the aircraft carrier strike group led by the USS Gerald R. Ford to the Middle East, a move that will significantly bolster the American naval presence in the region. The Ford strike group is expected to join the USS Abraham Lincoln and its accompanying guided-missile destroyers, which are currently operating in the Arabian Sea, according to remarks by Donald Trump.
Speaking to reporters, Trump confirmed that the carrier’s departure was imminent, saying it would be leaving “very soon,” although he declined to provide a precise timetable for the deployment. The announcement underscores Washington’s increasing military focus on the Middle East amid rising tensions surrounding Iran’s nuclear activities.
The decision to deploy a second aircraft carrier strike group follows Trump’s recent warnings to Iran, in which he cautioned that Tehran would face “very bad” consequences if it failed to reach an agreement with the United States over its nuclear program. The administration has repeatedly emphasized that diplomacy remains its preferred option, but has also made clear that military measures remain on the table.
The USS Gerald R. Ford strike group is being redirected from the Caribbean, where it had been stationed since October 2025. That earlier deployment formed part of a substantial US military buildup ahead of an operation that ultimately led to the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, marking a major moment in Washington’s engagement in the region.
The Ford originally left port in June 2025, and its deployment has already been extended once beyond its initial schedule. According to the New York Times, which first reported the redeployment earlier on Friday, sailors aboard the carrier had been expecting to return home in March, making the new orders an unexpected extension of their time at sea.
The arrival of a second carrier group in the Arabian Sea also comes in the aftermath of recent diplomatic engagements. Last week, representatives from the United States and Iran met in Oman for talks aimed at addressing Tehran’s nuclear program. Those discussions, however, ended without a clear breakthrough, leaving key disagreements unresolved.
Trump has continued to stress that he has not ruled out the use of military force if Tehran refuses to accept restrictions on its nuclear activities. He has framed the issue as a matter of global security, arguing that Iran must not be allowed to develop nuclear weapons.
During his first term in office, Trump withdrew the United States in 2018 from the nuclear agreement that had placed limits on Iran’s uranium enrichment in exchange for sanctions relief. Since then, efforts to revive or replace the deal have faced repeated setbacks.
Iran maintains that its nuclear program is intended solely for peaceful purposes, including energy production and scientific research. However, the International Atomic Energy Agency reported last year that Iran had enriched uranium to levels far beyond what is required for civilian use, raising concerns among international observers.
Tensions escalated further last June when Iran suspended its cooperation with the IAEA following US strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. Those attacks occurred during a 12-day war involving Israel and the Islamic Republic. At the time, Trump asserted that the strikes had “completely and totally obliterated” Iran’s key nuclear enrichment sites, though those claims were never independently verified.
A White House fact sheet dated February 8, released after the administration announced tariffs on countries that “acquire any goods or services from Iran,” stated that Trump had “recently deployed a massive armada to the region.” The document said the show of force was intended to pressure Tehran to return to negotiations and accept what the administration described as a fair and equitable agreement that would ensure Iran has no nuclear weapons, or else face even harsher consequences.
Gulf Arab nations have expressed concern over the escalating tensions, warning that any US military strike on Iran could quickly spiral into a wider regional conflict with serious political, economic, and security implications.
When asked on Thursday about a possible timeline for reaching a nuclear deal with Iran, Trump suggested progress could come “over the next month.” He urged Tehran to move swiftly, saying an agreement should be reached quickly to avoid further escalation.
“It should happen quickly. They should agree very quickly … otherwise it’s going to be very traumatic. I don’t want that to happen, but we have to make a deal,” Trump told reporters.
Trump last issued direct threats of force against Iran during the regime’s deadly crackdown on anti-government protests in January. He later stepped back from immediate military action after claiming that Iranian authorities had agreed not to execute arrested protesters.
Despite those claims, human rights organizations estimate that thousands of demonstrators were killed by security forces during the unrest. In the days ahead, Iranians are beginning to observe traditional 40-day mourning ceremonies for those who lost their lives during the protests, highlighting the continuing domestic and international scrutiny facing Tehran.