U.S. Ramps Up Presence in Middle East During Iran Talks

The aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) is enveloped in fog Feb. 11, 2014, as it sits in its berth in San Diego. (DoD photo by Glenn Fawcett/Released)

The USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier strike group has steamed into the Arabian Sea ahead of the second round of talks with Iran, reports Jon Gambrell of the Associated Press. He writes:

A second U.S. aircraft carrier is operating in Mideast waters ahead of the next round of talks between Iran and the United States over Tehran’s rapidly advancing nuclear program, satellite photos analyzed Tuesday by The Associated Press showed.

The operation of the USS Carl Vinson and its strike group in the Arabian Sea comes as suspected U.S. airstrikes pounded parts of Yemen controlled by the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels overnight into Tuesday. American officials repeatedly have linked the U.S.’ monthlong campaign against the Houthis under President Donald Trump as a means to pressure Iran in the negotiations.

In response to questions on the negotiations with Iran, President Trump told reporters that he wants “Iran to be a wonderful, great, happy country — but they can’t have a nuclear weapon.”

He also said that he would impose secondary tariffs (tariffs on countries doing business with Iran) if Iran didn’t make progress on a deal. 

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth reiterated the president’s demand that Iran not acquire a nuclear weapon in an interview with Fox News’s Maria Bartiromo.

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