A new US aircraft carrier has arrived in Middle Eastern waters ahead of the upcoming round of nuclear talks with Iran, the Associated Press (AP) reported.
According to satellite photos analyzed by AP, the USS Carl Vinson and its strike group are operating in the Arabian Sea, as both Washington and Tehran are gearing up for the second round of talks over Iran’s rapidly advancing nuclear program.
Carl Vinson in Mideast Waters
On Monday, the European Union’s Copernicus program captured satellite images which showed the USS Carl Vinson operating near the mouth of the Gulf of Oman. Vinson, which is deployed from San Diego, California, is accompanied by the Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser USS Princeton and two Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyers, the USS Sterett and the USS William P. Lawrence.
Vinson’s deployment to the Middle East comes in support of the USS Harry Truman, which has been striking the Houthis as part of the US campaign against the Iranian-backed militia in Yemen, which started on March 15.
The US Central Command (CENTCOM) recently published a footage showing Navy sailors aboard the newly-deployed US aircraft carrier while preparing ordinance and launching F-35 and F/A-18 fighter jets off its deck in recent days.
Military Threats
The deployment of USS Carl Vinson to the Gulf of Oman came amid escalating threats of a military action against Iran if the negotiations failed. “If it requires military, we’re going to have military. Israel will obviously be very much involved in that. They’ll be the leader of that,” the US President, Donald Trump said on Wednesday, according to CNN. He warned earlier that “Iran is going to be in great danger” if the talks aren’t successful.
U.S. Navy Sailors aboard the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) prepare ordnance for operations against Iran-backed Houthis… #HouthisAreTerrorists pic.twitter.com/2zqhUqHlGn
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) April 14, 2025
After the Saturday talks, Trump described the talks as “going OK.” He said: “Nothing matters until you get it done, so I don’t like talking about it, but it’s going OK. The Iran situation is going pretty good, I think.”
On its part, Iran rejected the US threats, warning its neighboring countries which host US bases of “severe consequences” if they get involved in any US attack against Tehran.
US-Iran Nuclear Talks
On Saturday, April 12, 2025, the US and Iran engaged in nuclear talks in Oman to set the stage for negotiations over Tehran’s rapidly advancing nuclear program. The US, Israel and Western countries worry that Iran is pursuing an atomic bomb by accelerating its uranium enrichment to 60% purity, close to the 90%-weapon-grade level. Tehran maintains that its program is for civilian purposes only.
After the conclusion of the first round of talks, both the US and Iran described them as “positive” and “constructive.” The White House said the talks are “a step forward in achieving a mutually beneficial outcome.” Meanwhile, the Iranian Foreign Minister, Abbas Aragchi, said the talks took place in a “productive, calm and positive atmosphere.” Both sides announced a second round of talks next Saturday.
Nuclear Enrichment
On Monday, the US Special Middle East Envoy, Steve Witkoff, who led the US delegation in Oman, hinted that the Donald Trump administration may consider the terms of the 2015 nuclear deal, known as JCPOA, from which Trump unilaterally withdrew in 2018, as a basis for negotiations.
Speaking to Fox News, Witkoff said: “This is going to be much about verification on the enrichment program, and then ultimately verification on weaponization. That includes missiles, the type of missiles that they have stockpiled there. And it includes the trigger for a bomb.” He added that the US seeks to resolve the issue diplomatically and with dialogue.
Moreover, Witkoff suggested that Iran’s uranium enrichment levels should not exceed 3.67%, as was agreed upon under the 2015 nuclear deal. “They do not need to enrich past 3.67%. In some circumstances, they’re at 60%, in other circumstances, 20%. That cannot be. And you do not need to run, as they claim, a civil nuclear program where you’re enriching past 3.67%,” he added.
Potential Disagreements
Although Axios reported that the second round of talks will take place in Rome, citing two US sources, Tehran said that Oman will host the Saturday talks, raising questions over the whereabouts of the negotiations.
Another sticking point could be Iran’s ballistic missile program. Tehran has ruled out negotiating its defense capabilities, including its missile program. However, Witkoff said that any deal with Iran would have to involve “missiles, the type of missiles that they have stockpiled there and it includes the trigger for a bomb.”
