Trump announces that a second US aircraft carrier will leave for the Gulf “very soon” and warns Iran
The USS Gerald R. Ford is the US Navy's largest aircraft carrier. Photo credit: Nikola Vilic / imago stock&people / Profimedia
A second US aircraft carrier will leave “very soon” for the Middle East, Donald Trump announced on Friday, after threatening Iran with “traumatizing” consequences on Thursday if negotiations for a diplomatic settlement of tensions between the two countries fail, reports AFP.
The exiled son of Iran's last shah has in turn called on Iranians for further protest action after a wave of mobilization was bloodily repressed in early January, in parallel with demonstrations expected to take place abroad on Saturday.
The US president raised the threat of military intervention in Iran in the context of the crackdown on demonstrations that, according to human rights NGOs, have resulted in thousands of deaths.
He then went on to threaten Tehran to press for a deal especially on the Iranian nuclear file. Negotiations between the two enemy countries resumed a week ago in Oman, but their continuation remains uncertain.
“There has to be a deal or it's going to be very traumatic” for Iran, Trump warned Thursday, calling the Feb. 6 talks “very good.”
In the absence of a deal, he said he would move to “phase two” which would be “very tough” on the Iranians.
Trump threatens Iran with “very traumatic” consequences. “The second phase will be very tough for them”
Donald Trump recalled the US bombing of Iranian nuclear sites during the 12-day war launched by Israel in June.
After sending the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and escort ships to the Gulf in January, President Trump announced on Friday that a second aircraft carrier, the Gerald Ford, would depart “very soon” for the region.
The nature of the targets Washington might target in the event of an intervention is unclear, as are U.S. intentions toward Iranian leaders.
