U.S. President Donald Trump said Tuesday that he is weighing the deployment of a second aircraft carrier strike group to the Middle East, a move aimed at increasing pressure on Iran as diplomatic talks continue.
Speaking to Axios, Trump confirmed that discussions are underway about sending another carrier group to join the USS Abraham Lincoln, which is currently stationed in the region. “We have an armada that is heading there and another one might be going,” he said.
Trump framed the situation with Tehran as a clear choice: “Either we will make a deal or we will have to do something very tough like last time,” referring to U.S. airstrikes last June on three key Iranian nuclear facilities — Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan.
The president also said he expects a second round of negotiations with Iranian officials as early as next week. Trump suggested that Iran is taking the talks more seriously now and that his willingness to use force has shifted the diplomatic dynamic. “Last time they didn’t believe I would do it,” he said, claiming Iran had “overplayed their hand.”
Trump described a prospective nuclear deal with Iran as a “no-brainer” that could potentially include curbs on Tehran’s ballistic missile capabilities. “We can make a great deal with Iran,” he added.
Ahead of the White House visit by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump dismissed concerns about any disagreements between Washington and Jerusalem, stating that Netanyahu “also wants a deal” and “wants a good deal.”
The potential deployment comes as Iran and the U.S. prepare for another round of nuclear negotiations. Talks resumed in Oman on Friday following a nearly eight-month pause, but tensions have remained high. A military buildup in the Persian Gulf and repeated threats by Trump of further action against Iran have underscored the challenges of diplomacy.
