Trump Considers Second Carrier Deployment Amid Stalled Iran Talks as Tehran Warns of Forceful Response

MIDDLE EAST - U.S. President Donald Trump stated in an interview on February 10 that he is considering deploying a second aircraft carrier strike group to the Middle East to prepare for military action if negotiations with Iran fail.

This follows the resumption of talks in Oman after a 12-day conflict in June 2025, focusing on Iran’s nuclear program and ballistic missiles.

Iranian officials have responded forcefully, with Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi asserting on January 28 that Iran’s armed forces are prepared to respond immediately to any aggression.

Trump: Tough Measures If Talks Collapse

Trump emphasized Iran’s desire for a deal but warned of tough measures if talks collapse, referencing prior U.S. strikes on Iranian facilities.

The USS Abraham Lincoln strike group remains in the Arabian Sea, with approximately 35,000 U.S. troops in the region centered at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.

Iranian leadership has condemned U.S. threats as interference, with President Masoud Pezeshkian signaling conditional openness to talks on February 3, provided they occur without coercion and on fair terms.

Khamenei: Any US Attack Will Spark Regional War. Houthi-Controlled Parliament In Yemen Declares Support For Iran

Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei warned on February 2 that any U.S. attack would spark a regional war. Brigadier General Kiumars Heidari, deputy commander of Khatam al-Anbia Central Headquarters, stated on February 2 that enemies’ miscalculations would meet regretful responses.

Iran’s ambassador to Lebanon, Mojtaba Amani, affirmed on February 3 Iran’s capability to confront threats from the U.S. or Israel. The Houthi-controlled parliament in Sanaa, Yemen, declared full support for Iran on February 2, viewing U.S. threats as sovereignty violations endangering stability.

Yemen’s internationally recognized government in Aden opposes the Houthis and their Iranian alignment, labeling the Sanaa body as illegitimate.

U.S. Assets In The Middle East, Iran Warns Of Targeting U.S. Bases In The Region Upon Entry of U.S. Carriers In Iranian Waters

The U.S. maintains naval assets in the Middle East, including the USS Abraham Lincoln strike group with fighter jets, Tomahawk missiles, and support vessels.

Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi warned on February 7 of targeting U.S. bases in the region without attacking neighbors. Revolutionary Guards spokesman Mohammad Ali Naini stated on January 28, that entry of U.S. carriers into Iranian waters would result in targeting.

Ali Akbar Velayati, advisor to the Supreme Leader, stated on February 5 that Iran stands ready to counter foreign threats, highlighting the Resistance Front’s role in regional security.

Iran’s Justice Minister Amin Hossein Rahimi noted on February 3 Iran’s firm stance against threats posed by U.S. forces in the region.

Official Statements

• President Donald Trump, February 10, 2026: “We have an armada that is heading there and another one might be going.” “Either we will make a deal or we will have to do something very tough like last time.” “We can make a great deal with Iran.” “Last time they didn’t believe I would do it. They overplayed their hand."

• Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi, February 7, 2026: “It would not be possible to attack American soil, but we will target their bases in the region.” “We will not attack neighboring countries, rather we will target US bases stationed in them.”

• Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi, January 28, 2026: “Our brave Armed Forces are prepared - with their fingers on the trigger - to immediately and powerfully respond to ANY aggression against our beloved land, air, and sea.” “The valuable lessons learned from the 12-Day War have enabled us to respond even more strongly, rapidly, and profoundly.” “There can be no negotiations in an atmosphere of threats.” “Conducting diplomacy through military pressure is neither effective nor useful. If they want negotiations, they must abandon threats, excessive demands, and illogical issues.”

• Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, February 2, 2026: “The Americans should know if they start a war, this time it will be a regional war.”

• President Masoud Pezeshkian, January 28, 2026: “Threats aimed at disrupting the security of the region and will achieve nothing other than instability.”

• Revolutionary Guards Spokesman Mohammad Ali Naini, January 28, 2026: “If their aircraft carrier made a mistake and entered Iranian territorial waters, it would be targeted.”

• Justice Minister Amin Hossein Rahimi, February 3, 2026: “The Iranian government and noble nation of the Islamic Iran have proven that wherever they have threatened Iran, we have stood firm and defended our rights.”

• Ambassador to Lebanon Mojtaba Amani, February 3, 2026: “Iran is fully prepared to confront any potential military threat from the United States or Israel.”

• Brigadier General Kiumars Heidari, February 2, 2026: “Americans should behave logically in dealing with Iran and powerful armed forces of the country, otherwise, they will receive Iran’s remorseful response.”

• Advisor to Supreme Leader Ali Akbar Velayati, February 5, 2026: “The Islamic Republic of Iran, as the main pillar of the resistance, is fully prepared to stand against any threat or foreign enemy, especially the United States and the Zionist regime."