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US President Donald Trump has stated that he is considering sending a second aircraft carrier strike group to the Middle East if negotiations with Iran fail. Speaking to Axios, Trump said that the military option is on the table if the diplomatic process doesn’t work.
The US and Iran resumed negotiations in Oman last Friday for the first time since the 12-day war in June. While the talks were underway, Trump stated that the US was significantly increasing its military presence in the Gulf, adding, “Either we’re going to make a deal, or we’re going to have to do something very tough, like last time.”
Trump stated that there was an “armada” heading towards the region and that he was “considering” the possibility of sending a second aircraft carrier. A US official also confirmed that sending a second aircraft carrier strike group to the Middle East was being discussed within the agency.
The USS Abraham Lincoln and its accompanying strike group, currently in the region, include fighter jets, Tomahawk missiles, and various warships. The US also deployed two aircraft carriers in the region for an extended period during the war in Gaza.
Trump argued that Iran was more serious about negotiations this time, claiming that military threats had been effective against Tehran. Referring to the June attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities, Trump said, “Last time they didn’t believe I would do it. They played their hands too much.” He added that this round of talks was “very different.”
Trump stated that he expects the second round of US-Iran talks to take place next week.
In public statements, the Tehran administration emphasizes that it can only negotiate on its nuclear program, but will not relinquish its right to enrich uranium. This has led the hawkish wing in Washington and Israel to believe that a comprehensive agreement is impossible and that a military option should be considered.
Trump, however, stated that it was “very clear” that a potential deal would cover Iran’s nuclear program, and argued that ballistic missile stockpiles could also be on the table. “We can make a great deal with Iran,” he said.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is traveling to Washington on Wednesday. This will be Netanyahu’s seventh visit since Trump took office. Trump defended Netanyahu, saying he wasn’t bothered by the US-Iran talks, adding, “He wants a deal. He wants a good deal.”
Ali Larijani, a senior advisor close to Iran’s religious leader and secretary of the National Security Council, met with the Sultan and the Foreign Minister in Muscat, the capital of Oman, on Tuesday. Larijani is also expected to meet with Qatari officials in Doha on Wednesday. Oman and Qatar stand out as key mediators in indirect contacts between Washington and Tehran.
*This is not investment advice.