Pentagon preparing second aircraft carrier to deploy to Middle East

The Pentagon is actively planning to deploy a second aircraft carrier strike group to the Middle East, according to a report published Wednesday citing three US officials, as President Donald Trump hangs the specter of war over ongoing negotiations with Iran.

Trump said Tuesday that he is considering sending a second aircraft carrier to the region, and one of the anonymous officials told The Wall Street Journal newspaper that his order to deploy could come within hours.

The officials said the president has yet to formally give the order to deploy. The Pentagon is, however, readying the strike group to deploy, likely from the East Coast, within two weeks.

The Journal said the USS George H.W. Bush aircraft carrier is currently conducting training exercises off the coast of Virginia and cited the anonymous officials as saying that the exercises could be expedited.