Second U.S. Aircraft Carrier Group Prepares for Middle East Deployment Amid Iran Tensions
The USS Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group is expected to depart the Caribbean Sea and head towards the Middle East in the coming days, according to three U.S. Officials. This deployment will bring the total number of aircraft carriers in the region to two, joining the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group, which arrived late last month.
The move comes as President Donald Trump has publicly discussed the possibility of increasing military pressure on Iran over its nuclear program and its response to recent protests. In an interview with Axios earlier this week, Mr. Trump indicated he was considering sending a second carrier to the Middle East if negotiations with Iran failed to yield progress.
Officials informed the crew of the Ford and its accompanying ships on Thursday about the potential deployment. The carrier, the world’s largest, had been operating in the Caribbean since November as part of a military buildup initially focused on countering drug trafficking operations near Venezuela. During that time, some of the aircraft aboard the carrier participated in a raid in Caracas on January 3rd that led to the capture of former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
The USS Ford’s initial seven-month deployment to Europe was redirected in late October to the Caribbean. Now, the carrier strike group is preparing to cross the Atlantic and Mediterranean again, potentially facing a deployment lasting up to ten months.
The presence of the Ford in the Caribbean was seen as a demonstration of force intended to pressure the Maduro government. The carrier’s potential arrival in the Middle East adds to a growing U.S. Military presence in a region already experiencing heightened tensions with Iran.
The USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group crossed into the U.S. Military’s Central Command area of responsibility – which includes Iran – on January 26th, 2026, according to CENTCOM. This movement followed warnings from the commander of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps, who stated that his forces had their “finger on the trigger.”
One U.S. Official stated that the Ford is now expected to return to its home port in Norfolk, Virginia, around late April or early May. The USS George H.W. Bush is completing training exercises off the coast of Virginia and could potentially expedite its deployment to the region if ordered.
The planned deployment of a second carrier strike group underscores the seriousness with which the Trump administration views the situation with Iran. Mr. Trump has repeatedly warned Iranian leaders against further escalation and has threatened military action if Iran does not agree to curb its nuclear program. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s Supreme Leader, has warned that any attacks by the U.S. Would spark a “regional war.”
Indirect talks between U.S. And Iranian officials were held in Oman last week, with both sides reporting positive progress and a commitment to continue negotiations. However, the deployment of additional military assets suggests a cautious approach from the U.S., preparing for a range of potential outcomes.