The New York Times reports that the Trump administration is sending another carrier group to the Middle East, this one led by the USS Gerald R. Ford. The deployment continues a massive buildup of American military forces in the area meant to pressure Iran. John Ismay and Eric Schmitt write for the NY Times:

The aircraft carrier U.S.S. Gerald R. Ford and its escort ships deployed to the Caribbean will be sent to the Middle East and are not expected to return to their home ports until late April or early May.

The ship’s crew was informed of the decision on Thursday, according to four U.S. officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly about the decision.

The Ford strike group’s new orders will have it joining the U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group in the Persian Gulf as part of President Trump’s resurgent pressure campaign against Iran’s leaders. Mr. Trump had indicated earlier this week that he wanted to send a second carrier to the region, but neither he nor the Navy had identified the vessel.

Trump has said he wants Iran to make a deal on nuclear weapons. In a recent press conference he explained “We have to make a deal, otherwise it’s going to be very traumatic. I don’t want that to happen, but we have to make a deal. They should have made a deal the first time, then they got Midnight Hammer instead.”

.@POTUS on Iran: “We have to make a deal, otherwise it’s going to be very traumatic. I don’t want that to happen, but we have to make a deal. They should have made a deal the first time, then they got Midnight Hammer instead.” pic.twitter.com/2alxYzgvLu

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) February 12, 2026