US preparing to send second aircraft carrier toward Iran – WSJ

The US Department of War has reportedly instructed a second aircraft carrier strike group to prepare for possible deployment to the Middle East, as Washington intensifies military pressure on Tehran amid negotiations over its nuclear program, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Three US officials told the news outlet on Wednesday that the preparations are part of contingency plan for a potential strike on Iran if diplomatic efforts fail. US President Donald Trump has not yet issued a formal order, and officials have cautioned that plans could still change.

One official said the deployment order could come “in a matter of hours.” Another said that the Pentagon is readying a carrier for deployment within roughly two weeks, likely from the US East Coast. The USS George H.W. Bush is currently completing training exercises off the coast of Virginia and could accelerate those drills if ordered to move sooner, the report said.