U.S. Deploys USS Gerald R. Ford to Middle East as Trump Pressures Iran on Nuclear Deal

by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Washington D.C. Bureau Chief

(Worthy News) – The Pentagon is deploying the Navy’s largest and most advanced aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford, to the Middle East as the United States intensifies preparations for potential military action against Iran.

Two U.S. officials confirmed that the Ford carrier strike group is being sent to the region, where it will join the USS Abraham Lincoln and nine other warships already operating under U.S. Central Command. The move significantly boosts American naval firepower in the region amid rising tensions over Iran’s nuclear program.

President Donald Trump, who is seeking a swift agreement with Tehran, has coupled diplomatic outreach with a clear warning of consequences should talks fail. U.S. and Iranian delegations recently concluded a first round of negotiations in Oman.

“They want to make a deal, as they should want to make a deal,” Trump told reporters. “They know the consequences if they don’t. If they don’t make a deal, the consequences are very steep.”

Speaking after visiting troops at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, Trump confirmed he ordered the second carrier deployment “in case there isn’t a deal.” Asked whether regime change in Iran would be desirable, the president responded, “Well, it seems like that would be the best thing that could happen.”

Trump also warned that failure to reach an agreement would be “very traumatic” for Iran, adding that he would prefer to see a deal reached within the next month. “It should happen quickly. They should agree very quickly,” he said.

Major Force Expansion

The Ford strike group will add more than 5,000 additional troops to the region, effectively doubling the number of aircraft and munitions available to U.S. commanders. The carrier brings dozens of advanced jet fighters and surveillance aircraft capable of sustaining high-tempo air operations.

Though the Ford does not introduce entirely new capabilities beyond those already present with the Lincoln group, its presence dramatically increases operational capacity should airstrikes be ordered.

The deployment marks a renewed U.S. focus on the Middle East after the administration previously pivoted military assets toward the Western Hemisphere. The Ford had spent months in the Caribbean and Mediterranean, including participation in operations that ultimately led to the capture of former Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, who now faces drug trafficking and narco-terrorism charges in New York.

At one point last fall, the U.S. had no carrier presence in either U.S. Central Command or European Command—an unusual posture not seen in decades.

Rising Tensions

U.S. forces have already intercepted threats in the region. According to reports, an Iranian drone approaching the Lincoln strike group was shot down last week.

The Ford’s current location in the Caribbean means it could take several weeks before it reaches the Middle East. By that time, its crew will have been deployed for roughly eight months—longer than the typical six- to seven-month carrier deployment.

Admiral Daryl Caudle previously voiced concern about extended deployments, noting the strain on service members and their families. “When it goes past that, that disrupts lives,” he said, referencing missed milestones such as weddings, funerals, and the birth of children.

Despite the show of force, Trump has emphasized that military action can still be avoided.

“If they give us the right deal, we won’t do that,” the president said. “I think they’ll be successful. And if they’re not, it’s going to be a bad day for Iran.”

With two carrier strike groups soon positioned in the region, the administration appears determined to back diplomacy with unmistakable military strength.

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