US Deploys Third Carrier as Trump Weighs New Iran Strikes

The United States is sending a third aircraft carrier strike group to the Middle East as the war with Iran stretches on and military options remain under consideration. The deployment comes as President Donald Trump has warned that the US could resume large-scale bombing of Iran after the November midterm elections.

The new deployment includes the USS Theodore Roosevelt carrier strike group and the USS Makin Island amphibious readiness group, which includes two amphibious landing ships. Together, the ships carry more than 7,000 sailors and 2,000 Marines.

A US official, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the military operation, said the deployment could result in three US aircraft carriers operating in the Middle East by the end of October.

With the additional forces, the US naval and Marine presence in the region would exceed 20,000 personnel and include hundreds of aircraft. The US Navy had three carrier strike groups in the Middle East in April, marking the first time since 2003 that such a concentration had been deployed there.

The USS George H.W. Bush and USS George Washington are currently operating in the region, along with the USS Boxer amphibious readiness group. The Washington, which is normally deployed in the Pacific, was moved to the Middle East to replace the USS Abraham Lincoln after the latter's crew spent more than 260 consecutive days at sea.

The Washington could potentially return to waters off Japan after the Theodore Roosevelt arrives in the region, according to US officials.

The deployment comes as Trump has signalled the possibility of renewed attacks on Iran. In an interview with Time published Thursday, Trump said it was “possible” that the US would intensify bombing in Iran after the November 3 midterm elections. He declined to disclose details of any potential military strategy or targets.

Trump also said he had rejected Iran's latest ceasefire proposal, arguing that terms he might have accepted a year ago were no longer sufficient.

He cited Iran's offer to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial global energy shipping route, as an example of why he considered the proposal inadequate.

Asked whether the increasingly unpopular war could hurt Republican prospects in the November elections, Trump initially said it was possible. He then argued that the conflict could help Republicans by preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.

The latest military deployment therefore comes at a sensitive point in the conflict, with Washington increasing its military presence while diplomatic efforts remain unresolved. The movement of additional forces gives the US more military options, but it does not by itself establish that a major new attack on Iran is imminent.