Iran: Trump sends world’s largest aircraft carrier to the Middle East

Washington (USA), 13 February (LaPresse/AP) – The United States will send the world’s largest aircraft carrier to the Middle East to support another already present there, a source familiar with the plans said today, bolstering American firepower in President Donald Trump’s efforts to force Iran into an agreement on its nuclear programme. The planned deployment of the USS Gerald R. Ford to the Middle East comes after Trump, just a few days ago, hinted that another round of talks with the Iranians was imminent. Those negotiations did not materialise, as one of Tehran’s top security officials visited Oman and Qatar this week and exchanged messages with US intermediaries. The deployment of the USS Gerald R. Ford, first reported by the New York Times, will bring two aircraft carriers and their accompanying warships to the region. The USS Abraham Lincoln and its missile destroyers are already present in the Arabian Sea.