Washington: The Trump administration has reportedly dispatched a second U.S. aircraft carrier to the Middle East, intensifying military presence in the region amid escalating tensions with Iran. This move comes hours after President Donald Trump warned Iran of “very traumatic” consequences if it fails to reach a nuclear deal.
There has been no official confirmation from the White House regarding the deployment. The USS Gerald R. Ford, the world’s largest aircraft carrier, is said to have set sail from the Caribbean Sea towards the Middle East, according to The New York Times. This deployment will bring two U.S. aircraft carriers, along with their accompanying warships, into the region, as part of increased pressure on Iran over its nuclear programme, the Associated Press reported.
The USS Abraham Lincoln and three guided-missile destroyers had already arrived in the Middle East more than two weeks ago, marking a heightened U.S. military focus in the area. The deployment of the USS Ford follows a rapid repositioning; it was previously dispatched from the Mediterranean to the Caribbean last October amid escalating tensions, including a surprise operation that resulted in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
The move appears to contrast with President Trump’s broader national security strategy, which emphasizes focus on the Western Hemisphere. Earlier this week, Trump indicated he was considering sending a second carrier strike group to the Middle East, signaling a tough stance on Iran.
The USS Ford, which began deployment in late June 2025, will have been deployed for nearly eight months by the time it reaches the Middle East. The duration of its stay remains unclear, but the deployment signals an unusually prolonged military presence in the region.
Trump Warns Iran of “Very Traumatic” Consequences
In a statement to Axios, Trump reiterated his warning to Iran, saying, “We have to make a deal, otherwise it’s going to be very traumatic, very traumatic. I don’t want that to happen, but we have to make a deal.” He further warned that “it will be very traumatic for Iran if they don’t make a deal,” referencing previous U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities during Israel’s 12-day conflict with Iran in July last year.
Meanwhile, political developments continue in Bangladesh, where Tarique Rahman is expected to take oath as Prime Minister on Saturday, February 14, after the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) secured a sweeping victory in the 13th general elections. Early counts indicate BNP and its allies have won at least 212 of the 299 seats, with the opposition Jamaat-e-Islami securing 70 seats, according to reports.
The Election Commission has yet to release full official results, but the BNP, returning to power after two decades, expressed gratitude to voters and called for prayers for the nation. Despite their victory, the party announced that no celebratory rallies or processions would be organized, emphasizing restraint amid the political transition.