Illustrative image. (U.S. Central Command)
President Trump told Axios in an interview on February 10 that he’s considering sending a second aircraft carrier strike group to the Middle East to prepare for military action if negotiations with Iran fail.
The first aircraft carrier, USS Abraham Lincoln, arrived in the Arabian Sea earlier this month amid a large-scale U.S. military buildup that also saw the deployment of dozens of warplanes and additional air defenses to multiple bases across the region.
“We have an armada that is heading there and another one might be going,” Trump said, adding that he’s “thinking” about sending another aircraft carrier strike group.
A U.S. official confirmed to the American news website that there had been discussions about sending a second aircraft carrier strike group to the region.
Trump, however, expressed optimism about the diplomatic path, claiming Iran “wants to make a deal very badly” and is engaging much more seriously than during previous talks due to the military threat.
He expects the second round of the U.S.-Iran talks will take place next week. The first round was held in Oman on February 6. It was described as positive by both sides.
“Last time they didn’t believe I would do it,” Trump said, alluding to his decision to strike Iran’s nuclear facilities in June.
“They overplayed their hand,” he added, noting that this time the talks are “very different,” he said.
Trump said that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is not against the current U.S.-Iran talks: “He also wants a deal. He wants a good deal.” Iran, he added, also “wants to make a deal very badly.”
But Trump told Ravid that the U.S. isn’t afraid to play tough: “Either we will make a deal or we will have to do something very tough like last time.”
Separately, U.S. officials told the the Wall Street Journal that the Trump administration discussed seizing tankers carrying Iranian oil to pressure Tehran, but fear retaliation and impact on global oil markets.
The newspaper reported that it is one of several options the White House has been debating as it conducts negotiations with Tehran over its nuclear program.
A White House official tells the news outlet in response that US President Trump “prefers diplomacy” but has “multiple options at his disposal” if the ongoing talks don’t lead to a resolution.
Netanyahu met White House advisers Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law, at Blair House in Washington on February 11. According to his office, Witkoff and Kushner give the primer “an update on the first round of talks they held with Iran.”
Later on the same day, Trump said he thinks that Iran wants to make a deal with the U.S. on its nuclear and ballistic missile programs, and it would be “foolish” if it did not. Trump made the comments in an interview on Fox Business Network’s “Kudlow” program.
The last round of talks in Oman was focused only on the nuclear issues, as Iran has so far refused to hold any discussion on its missile program and regional influence. This goes to show that the two sides are still too far apart on very much everything.
Trump’s optimism could be an attempt to deceive Iran. After all, when Israel launched its attack in June of last year, the Islamic Republic was holding talks with the U.S. Of course, Washington went on to join the war.
It won’t be surprising if a second aircraft carrier is already on its way to the Middle East. The U.S. could even go on to deploy a third, as after the deployment of the USS Abraham Lincoln some reports revealed that at least two other carriers were ready to go.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
SouthFront: Analysis and Intelligence
NOW hosted at southfront.press
Previously, SouthFront: Analysis and Intelligence was at southfront.org.
The .org domain name had been blocked by the US (NATO) (https://southfront.press/southfront-org-blocked-by-u-s-controlled-global-internet-supervisor/) globally, outlawed and without any explanation
Back before that, from 2013 to 2015, SouthFront: Analysis and Intelligence was at southfront.com
“we have an armada that is heading there”… to offset the co-conspirator revelation(s) pouring out of all of kash patel’s orifices on epstein-gate. fify!
americunt anuz will be torn again dripping w persian jizz