US preparing to attack Iran, sends most advanced aircraft carrier to Mediterranean

Deployment marks third U.S. carrier group positioned near Iran as military buildup intensifies.

By David Brummer, World Israel News

The United States is preparing to send its most advanced aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford, to the Mediterranean Sea, marking the latest in a series of major military movements amid escalating tensions between Israel and Iran, according to the NY Post.

According to a report by CNN’s senior national security correspondent Zachary Cohen, the $13 billion nuclear-powered carrier is expected to depart for Europe as soon as next week.

The move, while reportedly part of a deployment schedule planned last year, is widely seen as a significant show of force during a volatile period in the Middle East.

Once in the Mediterranean, the Ford will become the third US aircraft carrier operating near Iran, joining the USS Carl Vinson, currently stationed in the Persian Gulf, and the USS Nimitz, which the US Navy redirected from Southeast Asia earlier this week.

The carrier deployments come amid heightened regional concerns following heavy Israeli bombing of Tehran and sensitive nuclear sites and ballistic missile reprisals at Israel’s population centers from Iran.

The signals from Washington are that it is prepared to bolster its military posture in support of its ally.

The Nimitz, which had been engaged in maritime security operations in the South China Sea, abruptly canceled a scheduled port visit to Danang City, Vietnam.

The US Embassy in Hanoi confirmed on Monday that the vessel was being rerouted due to an “emergent operational requirement.”

Ship tracking data later confirmed the Nimitz was heading west toward the Middle East.

In addition to the carrier groups, the US has reportedly increased its aerial refueling capability in the region, with more than 30 US Air Force refueling tankers flying eastward across the Atlantic this week, according to Middle East Monitor.

Several US Navy warships have also departed their base in Bahrain as part of the broader buildup.

The military movements follow recent remarks from U.S. President Donald Trump, who hinted at potential US military action against Iran, after Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei dismissed calls for unconditional surrender amid the ongoing conflict with Israel.

The USS Gerald R. Ford, commissioned in 2017, is the newest and largest carrier in the US fleet, measuring over 1,100 feet and capable of supporting more than 75 aircraft.

Its deployment to the region underscores the scale and seriousness of the Pentagon’s military readiness as tensions continue to rise.