Pentagon preparing second aircraft carrier for Mideast - WSJ
The Pentagon has told a second aircraft carrier strike group to prepare for possible deployment to the Middle East as the US military prepares for a potential attack on Iran, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing three unnamed US officials.
An order to deploy could be issued within hours, one official said, while cautioning that President Donald Trump has not yet given final authorization and plans could still change.
One official said the Pentagon is preparing a carrier — likely from the US East Coast — for deployment within two weeks. The aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush, currently completing training exercises off Virginia, could accelerate those drills if ordered.
The report said details of a potential second round of talks with Iran have yet to be finalized, citing officials.
The report added that a second carrier deployment would mark the first time in nearly a year that two US carriers are stationed in the region, following the presence of the USS Harry S. Truman and USS Carl Vinson during operations against Iran-aligned Houthi forces in March 2025.
President Donald Trump said he told Benjamin Netanyahu he prefers a deal with Iran, but warned Tehran of consequences if talks fail, citing last June’s strikes.
"I insisted that negotiations with Iran continue to see whether or not a Deal can be consummated. If it can, I let the Prime Minister know that will be a preference. If it cannot, we will just have to see what the outcome will be," Trump posted on Truth Social.
"Last time Iran decided that they were better off not making a Deal, and they were hit with Midnight Hammer - That did not work well for them," he added.
