USS Gerald Ford Carrier Strike Group deploying next week

  • The US has shifted military assets closer to the Middle East
  • Trump has made conflicting statements about attacking Iran
  • Iran has threatened retaliation if the US joins Israel in strikes
USS Gerald Ford

FILE – The USS Gerald R. Ford, arrives in Halifax on Oct. 28, 2022. Within hours of the horrific attack by Hamas, the U.S. began moving warships and aircraft to the region to be ready to provide Israel with whatever it needs to respond.(Andrew Vaughan/The Canadian Press via AP, File)

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(NewsNation) — The USS Gerald Ford Carrier Strike Group is deploying next week on a previously scheduled deployment, a source told NewsNation, as tension between Israel and Iran continues to ramp up.

The group is expected to be near Europe, though it’s unclear if it will be near the Middle East, and the deployment could be adjusted at any time.

The USS Gerald Ford is the Navy’s newest and largest aircraft carrier and the third movement of military assets in the region following an escalation of the conflict between Iran and Israel.

The USS Carl Vincent is already in the Persian Gulf, and the USS Nimitz is being deployed to the region as well.

President Donald Trump has made conflicting statements over whether the U.S. will become more involved in the conflict.

Israel began conducting strikes on Iran last week, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu saying the strikes were needed because Iran was very close to producing a nuclear weapon.

The strikes put an end to negotiations between the U.S. and Iran over a nuclear deal. Trump pulled out of an earlier agreement with Iran during his first term and has stated the country cannot be allowed to develop nuclear weapons.

While Trump has said the possibility of a deal is still on the table, Iran has disputed his statements that the country has reached out for more negotiations.

The president left the G7 summit early to return to the White House and meet with his national security team as Israel and Iran traded attacks on each other. The U.S. also pulled nonessential personnel from embassies in the region and recently announced the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem would be closed for three days.

Iran has warned of increased retaliation if the U.S. becomes more significantly involved in the conflict.

“I may do it, I may not do it,” Trump said Wednesday when asked by reporters if he intended to strike Iran.

Military

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