US President Donald Trump announced on Friday that he has decided to send a second aircraft carrier to the Middle East as he tries to reach a deal with Iran over its nuclear program. He said that this would be necessary if a compromise could not be reached.
The world’s largest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford is being shipped from the Caribbean Sea to the Middle East. It will join the USS Abraham Lincoln and its accompanying guided-missile destroyers already deployed in the region. Lincoln has been in the area for more than two weeks.
Will the deployment of aircraft carrier warship increase pressure on Iran?
While leaving the White House for Fort Bragg, North Carolina, Trump said that the aircraft carrier would depart soon. He warned Iran this week that a no-deal situation could be ‘very painful’. Indirect talks were recently held in Oman between the US and Iran.
Meanwhile, Gulf countries have warned that any attack could spark regional conflict, especially at a time when the region is already under tension. Iran is marking its 40th day of mourning for those killed during recent protests, adding to internal pressure on the government. Recently, US forces shot down an Iranian drone which had flown close to Lincoln. The same day, Iran tried to intercept a US-flagged ship in the Strait of Hormuz.
Two dangerous American warships deployed in the Middle East
The USS Ford was sent from the Mediterranean Sea to the Caribbean in October last year as part of preparations for military action involving Venezuela. Now it is being deployed again. The US Southern Command has said that despite the change in deployment of forces, their operational capability in the Western Hemisphere will not be affected.
Earlier, Trump had also had a long conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. After this he insisted on continuing talks with Iran. Netanyahu wants Iran to limit its ballistic missile program in any deal. Also stop supporting groups like Hamas and Hezbollah.
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