The USS Gerald R Ford is the world’s largest aircraft carrier. Photograph: US navy via APDonald Trump said he was dispatching a second aircraft carrier to the Middle East that could be used for military strikes against Iran if negotiations fail with Tehran. He added that the second aircraft carrier would be “leaving very soon”. The Gerald R Ford is the US’s largest and newest aircraft carrier and its strike group includes three destroyers, thousands of troops and dozens of aircraft. Washington had two aircraft carrier strike groups positioned in the region when it struck three of Iran’s nuclear facilities last June.

Source: The Irish Times February 14, 2026 13:10 UTC