"Deal or Force": Trump Threatens "Severe Measures" Against Iran While Considering New Carrier Deployment

President Donald Trump signaled a dual-track approach toward Tehran on Tuesday, warning of "very severe measures" if nuclear talks fail to produce a comprehensive agreement. Speaking to Israeli and U.S. media, Trump revealed he is weighing the deployment of an additional aircraft carrier—possibly the USS Gerald Ford or USS George Washington—to the Middle East. While expressing optimism that Iran "desperately wants a deal," Trump remains committed to expanding the scope of negotiations to include Tehran's ballistic missile program.

In Muscat, Iran's National Security Chief Ali Larijani urged Washington to resist the "destructive role of the Zionists" ahead of the Trump-Netanyahu summit in D.C. After meeting Sultan Haitham bin Tariq, Larijani emphasized that the path to peace requires independent American decision-making free from Israeli pressure. As oil prices stabilized around $68.80 (Brent), the world watches whether the upcoming Wednesday meeting will solidify a diplomatic breakthrough or trigger a new military escalation.