Trump considers sending additional 'armada' to the Middle East

Washington - US President Donald Trump is considering sending another aircraft carrier to the Middle East amid the conflict withIran, news portal Axios reported on Tuesday.
'We have an armada that is heading there and another one might begoing,' Trump said in an interview with Axios, adding that he is'thinking' about sending another aircraft carrier strike group.
On Friday, representatives from Tehran and Washington began newnegotiations in Oman, which is serving as a mediator, under strictsecurity measures. Trump said the talks had been 'very good' andannounced further negotiations.
The new negotiations follow the serious mass protests in Iran, whichwere brutally suppressed by the security forces. Trump thenthreatened the leadership with military intervention and strengthenedthe US military presence in the region, including by sending over theaircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln.
Now, however, there is talk of a new agreement on Iran'scontroversial nuclear programme. Iran's leadership remains scepticalabout negotiations with its arch-enemy, the US.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to meet Trumpon Wednesday in Washington to discuss the negotiations with Iran. Trump is set to receive Netanyahu at the White House at 11 am (1600GMT), as a senior government official confirmed to dpa.
Israel is demanding that any US agreement with Iran also address theIslamic Republic's missile programme and its support for militantgroups in the region. The leadership in Tehran has recently publicly rejected such demands.