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US sends second aircraft carrier to Middle East as tensions with Iran escalate

By The South Asia Times

DUBAI - The Pentagon is deploying a second aircraft carrier strike group to the Middle East, significantly bolstering US military presence in the region amid soaring tensions with Iran over its nuclear program and regional activities.

The USS Gerald R. Ford -- the US Navy's newest and largest carrier -- will join the USS Abraham Lincoln, which is already operating in the Arabian Sea with its accompanying warships, two US officials confirmed.

The decision comes as President Donald Trump intensifies pressure on Tehran to reach a new nuclear agreement, warning that failure to strike a deal would be "very traumatic".

Beyond the dual carrier presence, the United States has been repositioning significant assets under US Central Command in recent weeks.

The military buildup comes as indirect US-Iran negotiations in Oman have stalled. Iran has insisted on limiting discussions to its nuclear program, while Washington demands a broader agreement covering Iran's ballistic missile program, its support for regional proxy groups, and human rights issues.

However, Tehran rejected the US demands on its missile program.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards have warned that any strike on Iranian territory would trigger retaliation against US bases across the region. The last significant confrontation occurred in June 2025, when the US bombed three Iranian nuclear facilities following Israel's surprise assault on Iran, prompting Iranian missile attacks on the Al Udeid base.

The June conflict ended after Israel reportedly asked Washington to help broker an end to the fighting with Tehran, as Iran targeted several strategic Israeli locations, causing significant damage, while Israel failed to intercept a number of Iranian missiles.

Trump suggested Thursday that an agreement with Iran could be reached within the next month.