Washington / Middle East — Web Desk: US President Donald Trump has announced the deployment of what he described as the world’s largest naval fleet to the Middle East, in a move aimed at increasing pressure on Iran and deterring potential escalation in the region.
Speaking to the media at a military base in North Carolina, Trump said the United States was sending a second aircraft carrier to the Middle East and warned that the naval deployment would be necessary if Iran refused to reach a nuclear agreement. He said Washington would take all necessary steps to protect its interests and allies.
According to international media reports, the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier is being moved from the Caribbean Sea to the Middle East, where it will join an existing US naval presence in the region. The USS Abraham Lincoln and guided-missile destroyers are already deployed in the area.
Trump’s announcement followed a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and is seen as a significant development amid ongoing regional tensions.
The US president said Washington wanted to reach a deal with Iran and expressed optimism about negotiations. However, he warned that failure to reach an agreement would have serious consequences for Tehran. He added that the United States already has substantial military forces positioned in the Middle East.
Meanwhile, Gulf Arab states have warned that any potential military action against Iran could trigger a major conflict in the Middle East, with serious repercussions not only for the region but also for the global economy.
