Former US President Donald Trump announced the upcoming deployment of the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier to the Middle East as part of increased US pressure on Iran over its nuclear and ballistic missile programs. Speaking at the White House, Trump described the move as a precaution, with a “very big force” ready if needed. He expressed hope for successful negotiations with Tehran but warned of severe consequences if no agreement is reached. Trump also suggested that a change of government in Iran would be beneficial, referencing long-standing hostility and recent deadly protests in Iran.
The Gerald R. Ford’s deployment follows other US military reinforcements in the region, including the Abraham Lincoln carrier, destroyers, fighter jets, and surveillance aircraft. This announcement came shortly after Trump hosted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who voiced cautious optimism about a potential deal with Iran but stressed the need to address Iran’s ballistic missile program, which Iran refuses to negotiate.
These tensions trace back to June’s 12-day conflict involving Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, with US participation in “Midnight Hammer” airstrikes that Trump claimed destroyed the targets. Recent indirect US-Iran talks in Oman aim to find a replacement for the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which the US exited in 2018. Since then, Iran has enriched uranium beyond agreed limits but denies pursuing nuclear weapons.
UN nuclear watchdog Rafael Grossi has struggled to gain access to sites affected by the June conflict and described negotiations as difficult but ongoing.
The USS Gerald R. Ford, a nuclear-powered carrier capable of carrying over 75 aircraft, signals a major US military escalation in the Gulf. Regional Arab nations have warned that military action could escalate into wider conflict, especially given ongoing regional instability following Israel’s recent Gaza war.