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By the People, for the People
US Deploys Second Aircraft Carrier to Middle East as Iran Tensions Escalate
The USS Gerald R. Ford, the world's largest aircraft carrier, will join the USS Abraham Lincoln in the region amid ongoing nuclear negotiations with Iran.
Published on Feb. 13, 2026
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The United States will send the USS Gerald R. Ford, the world's largest aircraft carrier, to the Middle East to back up the USS Abraham Lincoln already stationed there. This move comes as tensions with Iran remain high and the Biden administration continues efforts to negotiate a new nuclear deal with Tehran. The deployment marks a quick turnaround for the Ford, which was recently part of a military buildup near Venezuela.
Why it matters
The deployment of two US aircraft carrier strike groups to the Middle East signals a significant military buildup in the region as the US seeks to pressure Iran into a new nuclear agreement. This move could further escalate tensions between the US and Iran, raising the risk of a potential military conflict in an already volatile part of the world.
The details
The USS Gerald R. Ford will join the USS Abraham Lincoln and its accompanying guided-missile destroyers that are already operating in the Arabian Sea. The Ford's deployment comes after President Trump suggested new talks with Iran were imminent, though those negotiations did not materialize. The move also appears to contradict the Biden administration's national security strategy, which had emphasized the Western Hemisphere over other regions.
- The USS Ford set out on deployment in late June 2025.
- The Ford's crew will have been deployed for eight months in two weeks' time.
The players
Donald Trump
The former US president who had previously suggested new talks with Iran were imminent.
Benjamin Netanyahu
The former Prime Minister of Israel who has urged the US administration to press Iran to scale back its ballistic missile program and end support for militant groups as part of any nuclear deal.
USS Gerald R. Ford
The world's largest aircraft carrier, which is being deployed to the Middle East to back up the USS Abraham Lincoln.
USS Abraham Lincoln
The US aircraft carrier and its accompanying guided-missile destroyers that are already operating in the Arabian Sea.
What’s next
The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.
The takeaway
This deployment of two US aircraft carrier strike groups to the Middle East underscores the Biden administration's continued efforts to pressure Iran into a new nuclear agreement, even as tensions in the region remain high. The move risks further escalating the situation and could lead to a potential military conflict if not handled carefully.
