US aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford heads to Israel amid Iran tensions

DUBAI (Web Desk) - The United States aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford has departed from the Greek island of Crete and is heading toward Israel, according to foreign media reports.

The report said that the US carrier is expected to arrive at the Israeli port of Haifa by Friday.

US officials have also indicated that Washington has dispatched 12 F-22 Raptor fighter jets to Israel, marking the first time the United States has deployed its fighter aircraft on Israeli soil.

However, the Pentagon and the Trump administration have not officially confirmed the deployment of American fighter jets in Israel.

The developments come as the United States increases its military presence in the Middle East amid ongoing tensions with Iran.

Also Read: Satellite imagery shows rapid increase of US military planes near Iran

Earlier, on February 19, US President Donald Trump had given Iran a 10- to 15-day deadline to reach an agreement.

Meanwhile, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said that his country would not bow its head to pressure from world powers amid nuclear talks with the United States.

"World powers are lining up to force us to bow our heads... but we will not bow our heads despite all the problems that they are creating for us," Pezeshkian said in a speech carried live by state TV.

The US wants Iran to give up its nuclear programme, and Iran has refused and denied that it is trying to develop an atomic weapon.

Trump had also suggested that "bad things" would happen if Tehran did not strike a deal within 10 days, which he subsequently extended to 15.