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The US government has reportedly moved two aircraft carriers and the largest concentration of military aircraft to the Middle East since the 2003 invasion of Iraq.
It’s understood that American officials are still in talks with Iranian leadership for the country to end its nuclear and ballistic missile programs, with no settlement confirmed publicly.
US President Donald Trump has confirmed that the Middle East country has 10–15 days to reach a deal with the US or suffer consequences, with the carriers USS Gerald R Ford and USS Abraham Lincoln likely adding credible pressure to the situation.
“Maybe we’re going to make a deal. You’re going to be finding out over the next probably 10 days,” according to US President Trump at an inaugural meeting of the US-led Board of Peace.
“It’s proven to be over the years not easy to make a meaningful deal with Iran … We have to make a meaningful deal, otherwise bad things happen.”
Both nuclear-powered aircraft carriers carry dozens of strike and support aircraft, thousands of crew members, alongside their own strike groups of guided missile destroyers and support ships.
In addition, international media have identified large numbers of US aircraft movements to European and Middle Eastern airbases in preparation for possible extended aircraft operations covering several weeks.
Iran has responded with their own maritime and missile operation involving the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy and Army in the Strait of Hormuz earlier this week. The country also announced plans for further naval drills with Russian military forces in the Gulf of Oman.
More to follow.
