President Donald Trump said on Friday, 13 February 2026, that a change of government in Iran “would be the best thing that could happen,” while confirming a second US aircraft carrier will head to the Middle East. The remarks followed a visit to troops in North Carolina and were carried by major outlets including the Financial Times and the Associated Press. (ft.com)
Trump added that the USS Gerald R. Ford would leave the Caribbean “very soon” to join the USS Abraham Lincoln, which has been operating under US Central Command since late January. USNI News and a CENTCOM release confirm Lincoln’s presence in theatre, while the Washington Post reports Ford’s deployment extension despite maintenance concerns. (news.usni.org)
The White House push comes days after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met Trump in Washington on Wednesday, 11 February. Trump said he had insisted that US–Iran talks continue, while Netanyahu pressed for any agreement to cover ballistic missiles and Tehran’s support for regional proxies, according to AP and the Washington Post. (apnews.com)
Talks between Washington and Tehran remain indirect and Oman‑mediated. A round in Muscat on 6 February ended with both sides signalling cautious optimism but no immediate follow‑up, Iran’s foreign minister saying the session was “over for now,” per Guardian reporting. (theguardian.com)
Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian has said Tehran is prepared to accept nuclear inspections and transparency but “will not yield to excessive demands,” remarks delivered around the 11 February anniversary events and reported by Ahram Online and Euronews. (english.ahram.org.eg)
Trump did not specify who should lead Iran if change occurs. Inside the country, casualty estimates from the winter crackdown vary widely: official counts remain in the low thousands, while rights groups cited by AP and European media put deaths significantly higher; verification is difficult amid communication restrictions. (apnews.com)
From a force‑posture perspective, a two‑carrier configuration would materially increase available sorties and munitions. Reporting from NDTV and USNI News notes that Ford’s air wing and accompanying escorts add personnel and capacity to CENTCOM planning, even as extended deployments strain naval maintenance schedules. (ndtv.com)
The redeployment sits against the backdrop of last summer’s 12‑day conflict, when Israel struck Iranian targets and the US conducted limited strikes on nuclear facilities before a 24 June ceasefire, according to Al Jazeera and subsequent assessments. Those events continue to shape negotiating positions. (aljazeera.com)
Sanctions remain a central lever. In September 2025, European governments triggered the UN “snapback” process; UN restrictions were subsequently reimposed and Tehran curtailed IAEA co‑operation, according to contemporaneous reporting, while President Pezeshkian argued Iran would not bow to pressure. (aljazeera.com)
For officials and firms, the near‑term watchpoints are Ford’s Atlantic transit timeline, potential friction around the Strait of Hormuz, and whether a follow‑up session in Oman is scheduled. The Washington Post reports Ford will cross “in the coming days,” while Trump says diplomacy should continue after the Netanyahu meeting. (washingtonpost.com)