WASHINGTON, Feb 13 — The United States (US) is sending a second aircraft carrier to the Middle East amid tensions with Iran, American media outlets reported late on Thursday.
The aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford and its escort ships will be sent from the Caribbean to the Middle East, the New York Times, which first reported the news, said, citing US officials.
The White House and the Pentagon did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment outside of regular business hours.
Earlier this week, President Donald Trump said he was considering sending a second aircraft carrier to the Middle East if a deal is not reached with Iran.
The first aircraft carrier, the USS Abraham Lincoln and several guided-missile destroyers arrived in the Middle East in January.
On Thursday, Trump said that the US has to make a deal with Iran and suggested an agreement could be struck over the next month.
"We have to make a deal, otherwise it is going to be very traumatic, very traumatic," he told the media.
On the same day, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he hoped that Trump was creating the conditions to reach a deal with Iran that would avoid military action.
