2nd US Carrier Group on way to Iran Region

US NBC News reports February 14, 2026 at https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-administration/trump-sends-us-aircraft-carrier-ford-middle-east-iran-tensions-high-rcna258903

"The USS Ford Carrier Strike Group has been notified that they are leaving the Caribbean and headed to the Middle East, according to two U.S. officials familiar with the decision. The Ford will join the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier group already in the region. The decision comes as tensions with Iran remain high."

“…The Ford’s planned deployment to the Mideast comes after President Donald Trump only days earlier suggested another round of talks with the Iranians was at hand. Those negotiations didn’t materialize as one of Tehran’s top security officials visited Oman and Qatar this week and exchanged messages with the U.S. intermediaries.”

Pete Comment

It is unclear whether the Ford Group by February 25, 2026:
-  will sail to the eastern Mediterranean and cruise there
or
- sail on through the Suez Canal - Red Sea -- Arabian Sea off Iran 
or
- more simply around the Cape of Good Hope/South Africa then north through the Indian Ocean to Arabian Sea off Iran.

This also depends on the disposition of the Lincoln group. All amounting to hugely expensive speak loudly (not softly) and carry big sticks to pursue Trump's US imposed peace through violent stand over strategies. 

Submarines?: Each carrier group is most probably being escorted by a US SSN.

Iran's submarines include 3 x Kilo (877s) medium sized SSKs, 1 x small Fateh class SSK and 20 x midget (120 tonne) Ghadir class SSKs - large in number, generally low in capability.

An example of two US strike carrier groups sailing near Iran. Map courtesy https://news.az/news/us-deploys-new-forces-to-the-middle-east-map In this case Nimitz-class carrier USS Lincoln is south of Iran. Pictured is USS Theodore Roosevelt (since departed) in the Strait of Hormuz. USS Ford by February 25, 2026 may be ready to launch raids.