The United States is preparing to send a second aircraft carrier to the Middle East as tensions with Iran continue to escalate, US media outlets reported late Thursday.

According to The New York Times, the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford and its accompanying escort ships will deploy to the region from the Caribbean, citing US officials familiar with the decision.

The White House and the Pentagon did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Reuters outside regular business hours.

Earlier this week, US President Donald Trump said he was considering sending an additional carrier strike group to the Middle East if negotiations with Tehran fail to produce a deal. The move would significantly increase the US naval presence in the region at a time of heightened diplomatic and military strain.

The first aircraft carrier, USS Abraham Lincoln, along with several guided-missile destroyers, arrived in the Middle East in January. US officials described the deployment as part of efforts to bolster deterrence and maintain regional stability.

Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Trump emphasized the urgency of reaching an agreement with Iran.

“We have to make a deal, otherwise it’s going to be very traumatic, very traumatic,” he said, suggesting that an agreement could potentially be reached within the next month.

Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he hoped Trump’s actions were helping create the necessary conditions for a diplomatic breakthrough that would avert military conflict.