Exclusive: Trump says he might send second carrier to strike Iran if talks fail
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The USS Abraham Lincoln and its strike group in the Arabian Sea on Feb. 6. Photo: US CENTCOM/Handout/Anadolu via Getty
President Trump told Axios in an interview on Tuesday that he's considering sending a second aircraft carrier strike group to the Middle East to prepare for military action if negotiations with Iran fail.
Why it matters: The U.S. and Iran resumed negotiations last Friday in Oman for the first time since the 12-day war in June, but Trump has simultaneously launched a massive military buildup in the Gulf. "Either we will make a deal or we will have to do something very tough like last time," Trump told Axios.
- Trump said he expects the second round of U.S.-Iran talks to take place next week.
What he's saying: "We have an armada that is heading there and another one might be going," Trump said, adding that he's "thinking" about sending another aircraft carrier strike group.
- A U.S. official confirmed that there had been discussions about sending a second aircraft carrier strike group to the region.
- That's in addition to the USS Abraham Lincoln and its strike group, which includes fighter jets, Tomahawk missiles and several ships. The U.S. had two carriers in the region during much of the war in Gaza.
Yes, but: Trump expressed optimism about the diplomatic path, claiming Iran "wants to make a deal very badly" and is engaging much more seriously than during previous talks due to the military threat.
- "Last time they didn't believe I would do it," Trump said, alluding to his decision to strike Iran's nuclear facilities in June. "They overplayed their hand."
- This time the talks are "very different," he said.
Friction point: Tehran has publicly insisted it won't negotiate on any issues other than its nuclear program, and even then won't give up on its right to enrich uranium.
- That's led hawks in Washington and in Israel to conclude a comprehensive deal isn't possible, and Trump should instead move to the military option.
- Trump said it was a "no-brainer" for any deal to cover Iran's nuclear program, but that he thought it should also address Iran's ballistic missile stockpiles.
- "We can make a great deal with Iran," he said.
The intrigue: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will visit Washington on Wednesday, and is much more skeptical of the prospects of a great deal.
- Trump told Axios he doesn't think Netanyahu is nervous about the U.S.-Iran negotiations. "He also wants a deal. He wants a good deal."
- He added that the visit — Netanyahu's seventh visit since Trump returned to office — was moved up from next week to this week to accommodate Trump's schedule.
- For his part, Netanyahu told reporters before boarding his flight to Washington that he would "present to the president our outlook regarding the principles of these negotiations — the essential principles which, in my opinion, are important not only to Israel, but to everyone around the world who wants peace and security in the Middle East."
State of play: Ali Larijani, a top adviser to Iran's supreme leader and secretary of the country's national security council, visited Muscat on Tuesday and met with the Omani sultan and foreign minister.
- On Wednesday, Larijani is expected in Doha for meetings with senior Qatari officials. Oman and Qatar are two key mediators between the U.S. and Iran.
- U.S. officials believe Larijani may be transmitting Iran's positions to the mediators ahead of the second round of talks.
- Larijani also shared a message for the U.S. on X ahead of Netanyahu's visit to D.C.: "Americans must think wisely and not allow him, through posturing, to imply before his flight that 'I want to go and teach Americans the framework of the nuclear negotiations.' They must remain alert to the destructive role of the Zionists."
