Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
U.S. President Donald Trump indicated his support for the possibility of a regime change in Iran, as American envoys Steve Whitkov and Jared Kushner prepare to hold negotiations with Iran on Tuesday in Geneva, with representatives from Oman serving as mediators.
On Friday, Trump announced that a “massive force” would soon be in the Middle East, coinciding with the U.S. Department of Defense’s deployment of a second aircraft carrier to the region. Speaking after attending a military event at Fort Bragg in North Carolina, Trump was asked whether he seeks a regime change in Iran. He replied, “That seems like the best thing that could happen,” but declined to specify who he envisions taking power, only adding, “There are people.”
Trump criticized Iran’s leadership, saying: “They have been talking and talking for 47 years. In the meantime, we have lost many lives while they spoke. Limbs were lost, faces disfigured. This has gone on for far too long.”
U.S.-Iran Negotiations in Geneva
The president’s hardline statements come as Washington and Tehran pursue renewed diplomatic efforts over the long-standing nuclear dispute. A source familiar with the matter told Reuters that envoys Whitkov and Kushner will meet Iranian representatives in Geneva on Tuesday, with Omani officials serving as mediators. The envoys will also meet officials from Russia and Ukraine as part of the U.S. campaign to end the war in Ukraine.
The U.S. aims for these talks to address not only Iran’s nuclear program but also its ballistic missile capabilities, support for armed groups in the region, and treatment of the Iranian population. Iran has indicated willingness to discuss restrictions on its nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief but has rejected linking the issue to its missile program.
Trump warned of potential strikes on Iran if no agreement is reached, while Tehran has vowed to respond, raising concerns about a broader conflict as the U.S. mobilizes forces in the region. Last year, U.S. strikes targeted Iranian nuclear sites. When asked about remaining potential targets, Trump replied: “The dust. If we do that, it would be the least we could do, but we would likely seize everything that remains.”
Deployment of Second U.S. Aircraft Carrier
U.S. officials described the complex logistics involved in deploying the aircraft carrier Gerald R. Ford to join the Abraham Lincoln carrier and accompanying destroyers, fighter jets, and reconnaissance planes already sent to the Middle East in recent weeks. Ford, the newest and largest U.S. aircraft carrier, had been operating in the Caribbean alongside its escort ships and previously participated in operations in Venezuela earlier this year.
Asked why a second carrier is heading to the Middle East, Trump stated: “If no agreement is reached, we will need it… and if we need it, it will be ready.” An anonymous official noted that the carrier will take at least a week to reach the region.
The last time the U.S. deployed two carriers to the Middle East was in June of the previous year during strikes on Iranian nuclear sites. The U.S. Navy currently maintains a fleet of 11 aircraft carriers, a scarce resource with schedules determined well in advance.
The U.S. Southern Command, which oversees military operations in Latin America, stated it will continue to focus on countering “illicit activities and malign actors in the Western Hemisphere.”
Ford was primarily deployed since June 2025 and was initially scheduled for operations in Europe before being redirected to the Caribbean in November. Typical carrier deployments last around nine months, though extensions are not uncommon during periods of heightened U.S. military activity. Navy officials have long warned that prolonged deployments can negatively affect crew morale.
Nuclear-Powered Carrier Capabilities
Officials noted that the U.S. considered sending another carrier, the Bush, to the Middle East, but certification processes and logistical preparations would have taken over a month.
The nuclear-powered Gerald R. Ford can carry more than 75 warplanes, including F/A-18 Super Hornets and E-2 Hawkeye early-warning aircraft. It is equipped with advanced radar systems capable of monitoring and controlling airspace. Its escort ships provide surface-to-air, surface-to-surface, and anti-submarine capabilities.
