Report: World’s largest aircraft carrier, USS Gerald R. Ford, heads to the Middle East

The world’s largest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford, has been ordered to make its way from the Caribbean to the Middle East, the Associated Press reported on Friday morning.

The move is reportedly intended to increase pressure on Iran to reach an agreement on its nuclear program. The aircraft carrier will join the USS Abraham Lincoln, which is already in the region, as well as three guided-missile destroyers that arrived in the Middle East more than two weeks ago.

U.S. President Trump shared The Wall Street Journal article: “Pentagon Prepares Second Aircraft Carrier to Deploy to the Middle East” on his Truth Social account on Thursday.

The report also quoted a U.S. Navy official who stated that the aircraft carrier has the ability to launch and recover strike and reconnaissance planes, including F-35s, which earlier reports linked to possible military action against Iran.

During a White House press conference yesterday, Trump commented on his meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu earlier in the week, saying, “We had a very good meeting (...) but it’s ultimately up to me.”

U.S. and Middle East security officials have voiced skepticism over the likelihood of an agreement with Iran, suggesting the failure of reaching an agreement could bring Trump closer to authorizing a military strike.

According to reports, Israel’s red lines for a deal with Iran – presented by Netanyahu to Trump in their most recent meeting – include restrictions on Iran’s ballistic missile program, limits on its regional activities, and “zero nuclear enrichment forever.”