Amid rising tensions with Iran, the United States has reportedly ordered the world’s largest aircraft carrier to be sent from the Caribbean Sea to the Middle East, as President Donald Trump weighs military action against Iran as talks between Washington and Tehran continue.
This handout satellite photo taken on Dec. 3, 2025 shows the USS Gerald Ford, the world’s largest aircraft carrier, with at least 40 warplanes on its deck, off the coast of St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands. (AFP)Citing US officials, the New York Times reported that the carrier USS Gerald R. The Ford and its escorting ships were sent to the Middle East and are not expected to return until late April or early May.
USS Ford dispatched to Middle EastThe USS Abraham Lincoln, the world’s largest aircraft carrier, will join the carrier strike group and three guided-missile destroyers.
Notably, the USS Gerald R. Ford was dispatched from the Mediterranean to the Caribbean last October as the Trump administration ramped up military presence in the operation last month that led to the capture and ouster of then-Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
Earlier this week, Trump told Axios that he was considering sending a second carrier strike group to the Middle East.
Trump’s ‘Midnight Hammer’ WarningTrump issued this warning to Iran after a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday.
He said that Tehran had previously chosen not to reach an agreement and was then hit by the ‘Midnight Hammer’, and he hoped that Iran would act more rationally and responsibly this time.
“If it can be done, I told the Prime Minister that it will be a priority. If it can’t, we’ll have to see what the outcome will be. Last time Iran decided they were better off not making a deal, and they hit it with the midnight hammer — it didn’t work out well for them. Hopefully this time they’ll be more reasonable and responsible. In addition, we’ve discussed Regous, there’s been progress in general in Gaza and there’s been progress. Really thank you for your attention on peace in the Middle East!”