Second Aircraft Carrier Headed to the Middle East… U.S. Pressure Ahead of a Decision on Iran
The Pentagon is preparing to deploy a second aircraft carrier strike group to the Middle East, in a move that could be ordered within hours, according to U.S. officials cited by The Wall Street Journal.
According to three U.S. officials, the Department of Defense has instructed a second carrier strike group to be ready for deployment to the region. One official indicated that the decision “could be issued within hours,” although no formal directive has yet been given by U.S. President Donald Trump.
The newspaper reported that the aircraft carrier likely to be deployed within the next two weeks—most likely from the East Coast—is the USS George H. W. Bush, which is currently conducting exercises off the coast of Virginia. Those drills may be accelerated in preparation for deployment.
The USS Abraham Lincoln and its strike group, which includes fighter jets, Tomahawk missiles, and military support vessels, are already present in the Middle East.
Negotiations or “Extremely Severe Action”
The military move comes amid escalating rhetoric from Trump, who stated in media interviews that he is prepared to strike Iran if ongoing negotiations with Tehran fail.
In an interview with Israel’s Channel 12, Trump said: “Either we reach a deal, or we will have to do something extremely severe, as happened last time,” adding that the United States has “a naval fleet heading there, and another may follow.”
In another interview, he said he is “considering” sending a second carrier strike group, emphasizing that Iran is now “more serious” in negotiations because of the existing military threat.
The United States recently resumed negotiations with Iran in Oman for the first time since the twelve-day war in June. However, key points of contention remain, particularly regarding uranium enrichment and Iran’s missile program.
Trump–Netanyahu Meeting… Coordination Without Final Decisions
At the same time, Trump held a closed-door meeting at the White House with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, their seventh meeting since Trump’s return to the White House in January 2025.
Following the meeting, Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform: “Nothing conclusive was reached, except that I insisted on continuing negotiations with Iran to see whether a deal can be achieved.”
He added that Iran “previously chose not to make a deal and was hit with a midnight strike,” asserting that “there is real peace in the Middle East.”
For his part, a statement from Netanyahu’s office said the meeting addressed negotiations with Iran, the situation in Gaza, regional developments, and “Israel’s security needs” in the context of any potential agreement.
Military Escalation and Diplomatic Track
Despite his threatening language, Trump left the door open to a diplomatic solution, suggesting the possibility of reaching an “excellent deal” with Iran, provided it addresses its nuclear program and potentially its missile capabilities.
However, assessments in Washington and Tel Aviv indicate that reaching a comprehensive agreement will be difficult, as Tehran insists on its right to enrich uranium and rejects the inclusion of additional issues in the negotiations.
