URGENT: President Trump Orders Second Carrier Strike Group to Middle East, Warns Iran ‘We Will Have It Ready’
WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump announced on Friday that a second U.S. aircraft carrier strike group will depart “very soon” for the Middle East, a significant military escalation intended to pressure Tehran amid stalled negotiations.
The USS Gerald R. Ford strike group is set to join the USS Abraham Lincoln, which is already operating in the region. Speaking to reporters, President Trump characterized the deployment as a necessary contingency for the ongoing diplomatic standoff with Iran.
“In case we don’t make a deal (with Iran), we’ll need it,” President Trump stated regarding the massive naval reinforcement. “If we need it, we’ll have it ready.”
Escalation and “Maximum Pressure”
The decision to deploy a second carrier group marks a return to a high-stakes “maximum pressure” strategy. By concentrating such significant firepower—including two nuclear-powered carriers and their accompanying guided-missile destroyers—the administration aims to leverage military threat to force concessions from Iranian leadership regarding their nuclear program and regional proxies.
Defense analysts note that maintaining two carrier groups in the Middle East is a rare and resource-intensive move, typically reserved for major combat operations or acute crises. The USS Gerald R. Ford, the Navy’s newest and most advanced carrier, was previously reported to be operating in the Caribbean before being retasked for this mission.
Objections and Regional Tensions
The move has drawn immediate criticism from opponents of military escalation, who argue that doubling the naval presence increases the risk of accidental conflict or miscalculation in the crowded waterways of the Persian Gulf. Critics fear that “gunboat diplomacy” could backfire, empowering hardliners in Tehran rather than bringing them to the negotiating table. Conversely, hawkish allies have praised the move; Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) recently warned that allowing the current Iranian regime to survive without checking its aggression would be a “disaster.”
Background: Stalled Talks
The deployment comes against a backdrop of fractured diplomacy. Recent reports indicate that while back-channel talks have occurred, progress remains elusive. The administration appears to be signaling that the window for a diplomatic resolution is closing, and that the military option is being actively prepared.
Upcoming Official Visit
In a related diplomatic development, President Trump also announced that he will pay an official visit to https://t.co/CcECu9CR2E, a move expected to further solidify alliances in the face of rising regional instability.
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