U.S. Media: Trump Says He is Considering Sending a Second Aircraft Carrier to the Middle East

On February 10, Xinhua News Agency reported from Washington that U.S. President Trump said in an interview with the American Axios news website that he is considering sending a second aircraft carrier strike group to the Middle East in preparation for military action if negotiations with Iran fail.

Currently, the U.S. Navy's USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group is deployed in the Middle East waters. Trump stated, "There may be another fleet going." He also described Iran as "very eager to reach an agreement" and believes this round of negotiations is "very different."

Trump indicated that he expects the next round of U.S.-Iran negotiations to take place next week. He stated that the U.S. and Iran can reach an agreement, but any agreement must cover Iran's nuclear program and should also involve Iran's ballistic missile stockpile. He also mentioned that Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, who is set to visit the U.S. on the 11th, also wants to reach a "good agreement."

Iran and the U.S. held indirect negotiations on nuclear issues in Muscat, the capital of Oman, on the 6th. Although both sides subsequently signaled a willingness to continue negotiations, the "war alarm" has not been lifted.