U.S. President Donald Trump has ordered the world’s largest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford, to leave the Caribbean and head toward the Middle East, a move aimed at tightening military and diplomatic pressure on Iran amid renewed negotiations over its nuclear and missile activities.

The Ford and its accompanying vessels are expected to take nearly three weeks to reach the region, where they will join the USS Abraham Lincoln. Their arrival will substantially expand U.S. naval strength in waters critical to ongoing tensions with Tehran.

Trump had hinted earlier in the week, during an interview with Axios, that he was considering dispatching an additional carrier strike group to the Middle East. At the time, he expressed cautious optimism that Iran might still agree to a new nuclear accord.

His decision follows an indirect round of U.S.-Iranian talks in Oman last week. While further negotiations are expected, no date has been fixed. Reports from American media on Thursday identified the Gerald R. Ford as the vessel selected for redeployment. The development came a day after Trump held talks in Washington with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, reportedly focused on the emerging framework for future discussions with Tehran.

Iran has signaled a readiness to limit uranium enrichment in exchange for relief from U.S. sanctions, but it has dismissed broader demands—such as curbing its ballistic missile program and withdrawing support for proxy groups including Hezbollah. Israel has urged Washington to insist on those additional restrictions.

Trump’s posture toward Iran has shifted sharply in recent weeks. Initially, he voiced open support for Iranian demonstrators and hinted at possible U.S. intervention, declaring that “help is coming,” even as few American military assets were in the region. By the time the Abraham Lincoln carrier group arrived, Iran’s government had already quashed the protests in a violent crackdown that left thousands, possibly tens of thousands, dead.

Attention has since turned back to Iran’s nuclear program, already weakened by a series of U.S. and Israeli airstrikes during last summer’s brief but intense 12-day conflict.

The Gerald R. Ford strike group had previously operated in the eastern Mediterranean before being redeployed to the Caribbean in November, part of U.S. efforts to pressure Venezuela’s then-president Nicolás Maduro. The carrier played a central role in the operation that led to Maduro’s capture in January and has remained in the region since then. Its new assignment marks one of the longest deployments for a U.S. carrier strike group since it departed American shores in mid-2025 without a scheduled return date.

On Thursday, Trump warned Iran that failing to reach a compromise would be “very traumatic” for its government, stressing that he hoped the talks would conclude soon. “Within the next month, something like that,” he told reporters when asked about the timeline for a deal. “It should happen quickly. They should agree very quickly.”

During a visit to Fort Bragg, North Carolina, on Friday, Trump went further, saying that regime change in Tehran “would be the best possible outcome.”
“For 47 years, they’ve been talking and talking and talking,” he said. “Meanwhile, we’ve lost countless lives as they keep on talking.”

Riyadh Air and Saudia have announced the implementation of the first phase of their Strategic Cooperation Agreement, marking a major step in strengthening connectivity under Saudi Arabia’s National Aviation Strategy.

The partnership builds on a Memorandum of Understanding signed in November 2023 and enables the two airlines to expand travel options for domestic and international passengers.

As part of the first phase, Riyadh Air has established a connection with Saudia’s Passenger Service System (PSS), allowing the carriers to implement their codeshare across their respective technology platforms.

Under the RX-SV codeshare, Riyadh Air will place its “RX” designator on selected Saudia-operated flights from Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport to six domestic destinations: Abha, Al Qassim, Dammam, Jeddah, Medina and Tabuk.

The agreement will give Riyadh Air passengers access to additional destinations worldwide through convenient connections in Riyadh. For example, travelers from Dammam can connect via Riyadh to Madrid on a single ticket, while passengers flying from Kuala Lumpur can connect through Riyadh to Medina.

By using Saudia’s frequent services between Riyadh and the six codeshare destinations, Riyadh Air will offer passengers more convenient connections aligned with the arrival and departure schedules of its flights at Riyadh.

Both airlines operate within the King Khalid International Airport Terminal 1-4 complex, enabling passengers to benefit from streamlined connections, single-ticket journeys and through-checked baggage to their final destinations.

The first phase represents a significant step toward deeper cooperation between Saudi Arabia’s two national carriers and supports the Kingdom’s broader ambitions to expand its global aviation network.

Source: aaco.org

SalamAir has announced the establishment of Salalah’s first-ever airline base, marking a major step in the airline’s expansion and strengthening direct international connectivity from Oman’s Dhofar Governorate.

The new Salalah-based operation will initially serve three international destinations: Jeddah in Saudi Arabia, Chattogram in Bangladesh and Calicut in India. Bookings opened on August 26, with flights scheduled to begin from the end of October as part of SalamAir’s Winter 2026 schedule.

The base follows SalamAir’s expanded operations during the 2026 Khareef season, when the airline increased capacity on the Muscat-Salalah route to as many as 15 daily flights during peak periods.

The airline also introduced special domestic fares for Omani nationals, with one-way tickets starting from OMR 9.99, supporting affordable travel between Muscat and Salalah.

The new base is expected to extend SalamAir’s role beyond the Khareef season by supporting year-round travel demand among residents and expatriate communities in Dhofar while offering more direct access to key regional and international destinations.

Operations from Salalah will be supported by SalamAir’s Airbus A320neo and A321neo fleet. The airline currently operates 18 aircraft, providing additional flexibility to support growing demand across its network.

During the winter season, SalamAir will also operate charter flights linking Salalah with Astana and Almaty in Kazakhstan, supporting inbound tourism from Central Asia.

The Salalah base forms part of SalamAir’s wider strategy to expand its network from key airports across Oman, develop underserved markets and stimulate new travel demand while supporting the growth of the Sultanate’s aviation and tourism sectors.

Source: ZAWYA