Conflicts
US negotiators visit aircraft carrier after Iran talks
Updated February 7, 2026 – 8:10 p.mReading time: 2 minutes
The USA is negotiating with Iran again, but continues to point to its military options. This is also shown by a visit by two key figures in Trump’s Middle East policy to the US military.
One day after their negotiations with Iran in Oman, US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner visited the aircraft carrier “USS Abraham Lincoln” that was deployed to the region. Among other things, they thanked sailors and marines there and followed flight operations, Witkoff said on the X platform. He said he was proud to stand with the men and women who defended America’s interests, deterred its adversaries and showed the world what American resolve looks like.
Shortly after the start of new negotiations mediated by Oman, the visit can be seen as a further signal from the Americans to Iran that they will not back down from their military threats. It took place at the invitation of the commander in chief of American forces in the region, Admiral Brad Cooper, as the US broadcaster CNN reported, citing a senior US official.
Cooper was part of the US delegation led by Witkoff and Kushner at the talks with Iran on Friday. Iran saw this as an attempt at a “show of force,” as the online portal Nur-News reported. “The introduction of the military component increases the risk and costs of the negotiations; the responsibility for this lies with the USA,” said a report. According to CNN information, both Oman and Iran were informed in advance about Kushner and Witkoff’s visit to the aircraft carrier.
The USA had recently massively increased its military presence near Iran and in the process also relocated the aircraft carrier to the Middle East. This is powered by a nuclear reactor and usually carries several thousand soldiers and dozens of fighter aircraft and is accompanied by Navy destroyers.
US President Donald Trump had recently threatened the leadership in Tehran with military intervention several times and justified this, among other things, with the brutal crackdown by the state against demonstrators in the recent mass protests. He also repeatedly makes it clear that Iran’s controversial nuclear program is a thorn in his side.
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to discuss ongoing talks with Iran with Trump in Washington on Wednesday. Netanyahu’s office announced this on the X platform.
