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Washington is weighing sending a second aircraft carrier strike group and could launch a strike on Iran if the current talks fall apart, President Donald Trump said on Tuesday.
"We have an armada that is heading there and another one might be going," Trump said. "Either we will make a deal or we will have to do something very tough like last time."
He added that a second round of U.S.–Iran talks is expected next week, after negotiations resumed in Oman last Friday for the first time since the 12-day war in June.
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An aircraft carrier strike group typically includes a carrier, escort ships, combat aircraft and long-range missiles, forming a central element of U.S. power projection at sea.
A U.S. official confirmed there have been internal discussions about deploying a second carrier group to the region, Axios reported. This would add to the USS Abraham Lincoln strike group, which includes fighter jets, Tomahawk cruise missiles and multiple support ships. The U.S. maintained two carriers in the region during much of the Gaza war period, according to the report.
Trump said the current round of talks differed from earlier negotiations and indicated that Iran was more actively engaged under the present conditions. He stated that Iran "wants to make a deal very badly" and was approaching the discussions more seriously because of military pressure.
Referring to U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities in June 2025, Trump said, "Last time they didn’t believe I would do it," and added that Iran "overplayed their hand." He described the negotiation track as "very different."
Iran publicly stated that it would not negotiate on issues beyond its nuclear program and would not give up what it calls its right to enrich uranium.
That position led some policymakers in Washington and Israel to argue that a comprehensive agreement might not be achievable and that military options should be considered instead.
Trump said any agreement would, in his view, need to cover Iran’s nuclear program and added that ballistic missile stockpiles could also be addressed. He said, "We can make a great deal with Iran."
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was scheduled to visit Washington, with the trip moved forward to match Trump’s schedule. Trump said he did not believe Netanyahu was worried about the negotiations and added, "He also wants a deal. He wants a good deal."
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