US-Iran Tensions Escalate as World's Largest Aircraft Carrier Enters Mediterranean Sea

The USS Gerald R. Ford, the United States’ largest aircraft carrier in the world, was seen entering the Mediterranean Sea on Friday (20 February) local time. The vessel had been ordered by US President Donald Trump to deploy to the Middle East as part of a massive military build-up amid tensions with Iran.

According to AFP news agency on Saturday (21 February 2026), the aircraft carrier was spotted crossing the Strait of Gibraltar — which connects the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean — in photographs taken from the Gibraltar side of the strait.

The carrier will join another US aircraft carrier, the USS Abraham Lincoln, and its accompanying warships which had already arrived in the Middle East region.

Trump said on Friday (20 February) local time that he was “considering” limited strikes against Iran should negotiations fail to produce an agreement.

Previously, Trump had signalled on Thursday (19 February) that “bad things” would happen if Tehran did not reach a deal within 10 days, which he subsequently extended to 15 days.

When asked by a reporter on Friday (20 February) whether he was considering limited military strikes, Trump replied: “The most I can say is — I’m considering it.”

The latest threats came after Iran’s foreign minister said a draft proposal for a deal with Washington would be ready within days, following negotiations between the two sides in Geneva earlier this week.

Tehran said both parties had agreed to submit a draft potential agreement, which Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told US media would be “the next step.”

“I’m confident that within two or three days it will be ready, and after final confirmation from my superiors, it will be submitted to Steve Witkoff,” he said, referring to Trump’s chief negotiator for the Middle East.