US President Donald Trump announced Friday that he is sending a second aircraft carrier group to the Middle East, signaling a “bad day for Iran” if the country fails to reach a deal on its nuclear program.
Speaking at the White House, Trump said the USS Gerald R. Ford, currently in the Caribbean, would soon be redeployed to the region.
“In case we don’t make a deal, we’ll need it. It’ll be leaving very soon. If we need it, we’ll have it ready—a very big force,” he said.
Trump stressed his preference for a diplomatic solution but warned of tough consequences if negotiations fail.
“I believe the talks will be successful, but if they’re not, it’s going to be a bad day for Iran, very bad,” he added.
The US had already deployed the USS Abraham Lincoln to the Middle East, forming a fleet of 12 naval vessels in the region.
The four ships led by the Gerald R. Ford had been stationed in the Caribbean, where US forces reportedly captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in January.
The announcement comes amid heightened tension following Iran’s deadly crackdown on protests last month, which rights groups claim killed thousands.
Trump’s recent statements have focused on Iran’s nuclear program, while the West remains concerned the program could be used to develop a nuclear weapon, a claim Tehran denies.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, after meeting Trump in Washington, expressed cautious optimism about a potential agreement but stressed that any deal must also address Iran’s ballistic missile program and support for regional armed groups.
Meanwhile, US-based Reza Pahlavi, son of the former Shah of Iran, urged citizens to participate in protests from their homes and rooftops in the coming days, coinciding with demonstrations abroad.
Videos verified by AFP show Iranians chanting anti-government slogans this week, as the country marked the anniversary of the Islamic Revolution.
Human rights organizations report that over 7,000 protesters were killed in the recent crackdown, with tens of thousands more arrested. Some detainees, including young protesters, face charges that could carry the death penalty.
Reformist politicians supportive of President Masoud Pezeshkian were recently detained and later released on bail, highlighting the ongoing political crackdown in Iran.
