Donald Trump has committed the USS Gerald R Ford, a second aircraft carrier, to Middle East operations as Iran nuclear talks appear to stall without clear progress. The deployment from Caribbean waters will require approximately three weeks, after which the Ford will operate alongside the USS Abraham Lincoln in creating a powerful dual-carrier presence near Iranian territory.
The timing demonstrates Trump’s determination to maintain pressure following his Washington meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, during which leaders aligned on Iran negotiation frameworks. Israel has consistently maintained that acceptable agreements must restrict Iran’s ballistic missile development and curtail proxy support in addition to nuclear enrichment limitations.
Iran has indicated willingness to accept some nuclear enrichment restrictions in exchange for economic sanctions relief. However, Iranian leadership has drawn firm boundaries against accepting constraints on ballistic missile programs or reducing support for regional allies, creating fundamental obstacles to comprehensive agreement despite initial Oman discussions.
The USS Gerald R Ford’s deployment began in June 2025 with Mediterranean operations before Caribbean reassignment in November where it played a pivotal role in the dramatic Maduro seizure. The Middle East redeployment extends an already exceptional mission length with crew members facing continued separation from home.
Trump delivered increasingly pointed warnings to Iranian leadership throughout the week. Thursday brought characterizations of negotiation failure as potentially “very traumatic” while suggesting agreement might be reached within approximately one month. Friday’s Fort Bragg remarks indicated that regime change in Iran might ultimately be more desirable than continued negotiations.