USS Gerald R. Ford Leaves the Middle East

Two U.S. officials told The Associated Press on Wednesday that the world's largest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford, will return to the United States after a record deployment of more than 300 days.

The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, explained that the world's largest aircraft carrier – whose deployment included participation in the war against Iran and the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro – will leave the Middle East in the coming days, heading to its homeport in Virginia, expected to arrive in mid-May.

The officials stated that the arrival of the USS George H.W. Bush in the region last week meant the deployment of three U.S. aircraft carriers in the Middle East, a level not seen since 2003, during a fragile truce in the Iran war.

They also indicated that the USS Abraham Lincoln has also been in the region since January amid escalating tensions with Tehran.

They added that the Ford broke the U.S. record this month for the longest naval deployment since the Vietnam War, as its deployment lasted approximately 10 months after departing Naval Station Norfolk in June.

These developments come amid reports that U.S. President Donald Trump rejected an Iranian proposal to open the Strait of Hormuz and lift the blockade in exchange for postponing nuclear negotiations.

Axios quoted sources as saying that Trump decided to maintain the naval blockade imposed on Iran as a primary pressure option.

In response, the commander of the Iranian Army's Navy, Admiral Shahram Irani, vowed on Wednesday that "enemies will very soon witness a weapon they greatly fear," indicating that this weapon is stationed "very close to them."

He affirmed that "the Iranian Army's naval force carried out seven missile operations against the U.S. aircraft carrier 'Abraham Lincoln'," adding that the United States "was unable for a period to operate its aircraft or conduct aerial operations" from its deck.