U.S. Central Command released a video showing what it said was the air wing of the carrier USS Carl Vinson working alongside the USS Harry S. Truman in its area of responsibility in the Middle East.
Why It Matters
The arrival of the USS Carl Vinson in the region is part of a major build up ahead of a potential attack on Iran that President Donald Trump has threatened if Tehran does not reach a deal on its nuclear program with talks due at the weekend.
The carrier reinforcement also comes as U.S. forces led by the Truman target Iran-backed Houthi militants, a U.S.-designated terrorist group, who threaten global shipping in the Red Sea.
What To Know
The arrival of the Vinson follows an announcement by the U.S. Department of Defense that it is deploying additional forces in the Middle East is an indication both of the growing tensions and the possibility of preparations for a potential strike against Iran’s nuclear program.
The video posted by U.S. Central Command appeared to show aircraft taking off from the decks of carriers and missiles being loaded.
CENTCOM Commander Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla recently discussed efforts to restore freedom of navigation in the Red Sea amid the ongoing U.S. operations against the Yemeni rebel group at a meeting with the chief of staff of Yemen’s U.S.-recognized armed forces, during a trip to the Middle East.
Any attack on Iran would dwarf the scale of the assault on the Houthis. Both Trump and U.S. ally Israel have said that Iran cannot be allowed to acquire nuclear weapons. Tehran has said that its nuclear program has only civilian purposes, but it has stepped up enrichment of uranium near to what would be needed for nuclear weapons.
The United States and Iran are due to start talks on Iran’s nuclear program in Oman at the weekend.
What People Are Saying
U.S. President Donald Trump: “We’re dealing with them directly and maybe a deal is going to be made … doing a deal would be preferable to doing the obvious … If the talks aren’t successful, I think it’s going to be a very bad day for Iran.”
Iran Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi: “We face a significant wall of mistrust and harbour serious doubts about the sincerity of intentions, made worse by U.S. insistence on resuming the ‘maximum pressure’ policy prior to any diplomatic interaction.”
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth: “We’re not gonna relent until the Houthis declare they will stop shooting at our ships. And we’ve been very clear that Iran as well they should not continue to provide support for the Houthis.”
Houthi Military Spokesperson Yahia Sarea, Wednesday: “In response to its crimes against citizens in several governorates, the Air Force carried out a targeted operation, targeting a number of enemy warships, led by the US aircraft carrier Truman, north of the Red Sea, using a number of drones.”
What Happens Next
The U.S.-Iran talks at the weekend will be crucial and although they are not widely expected to reach any final agreement, they could be a factor in determining whether there will be any strike on Iran. The attacks on the Houthis are set to continue.