While the US and Israel planned to strike Iran, one thing was confirmed. Iran would retaliate against any strike with all its might. That’s what Iran did on Saturday, after being attacked by Israel and the US. Aware of that, the Trump administration reportedly positioned the world’s largest warship ever built, the USS Gerald R Ford, off the coast of Israel near the port city of Haifa. It is believed to be serving as a defensive “shield” against Iranian retaliation.
Tehran’s counterstrikes have begun, targeting US bases in Bahrain, Kuwait, and the UAE in response to the US and Israeli military actions on Iran. Witnesses from Reuters have also reported blasts echoing through the Qatari capital Doha.
The US and Israel launched ‘Operation Epic Fury’ on Iran, targeting key government and military establishments, including the office of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and the Iranian President.
Against this backdrop, the USS Ford’s arrival near Haifa has bolstered Israel’s defences. As detailed in a report from Iran International, the municipality of Haifa issued a statement encouraging tourists to extend their evenings beyond 10 pm to view the massive American carrier.
As the country has gone to war again, the presence of the $13.3-billion warship’s presence off the coast of Israel has also injected a sense of normalcy, with tourists thronging to see the aircraft carrier, reported Iran International.
Meanwhile, social media platforms have been flooded with dark and satirical memes about the USS Gerald R Ford’s deployment. Some posts talked about hypothetical scenarios in which any damage to the carrier could be blamed on Iran, triggering deeper US involvement. While such commentary reflects the cynicism and distrust that often accompanies major conflicts, there is no indication of any such development on the ground.
“Those coming to Haifa to look for the Gerald Ford are also encouraged to stop by our wonderful restaurants, cafes, museums, shopping centers, the flea market, our parks and our stunning beaches. Enjoyment guaranteed,” the municipality of Haifa statement read.
The warship, which has the ability to carry up to 90 aircraft and incorporates advanced stealth features, is enhancing Israel’s Iron Dome system.
Israel has a multi-layered anti-missile system, and the Iron Dome, which is synonymous with the air defence system, is just a part of it. Other than the Iron Dome, Israel’s defence system includes David’s Sling, and the Arrow 2 and Arrow 3 interceptors. Israel now has the Star Wars-type Iron Beam too.
The USS Gerald R Ford is likely to add to this layer of defence capabilities.
THE SWORD AND THE SHIELD: ATTACKING IRAN, PROTECTING ISRAEL
Independent geopolitics analyst Shanaka Anslem Perera, in a detailed tweet, provided insight into the strategic rationale behind the Ford’s positioning. “The USS Gerald R Ford is not parked near Iran. It is parked off Israel,” Perera wrote, emphasising that no one is probing the key question: why. His tweet came just a few hours before the US and Israel launched a joint strike on Iran.
The positioning of the Ford is in contrast to that of the USS Abraham Lincoln, stationed in the Arabian Sea some 850 kilometres from Iranian shores for potential offensive operations.
“The Lincoln is the sword, positioned to launch strike packages into Iranian airspace within hours of an order. The Ford is the shield, its Aegis missile defence systems creating an umbrella over Israeli population centres against the retaliation that follows the first Tomahawk,” Perera explained.
Perera argued this setup represents a doctrinal shift, splitting US carrier roles into offence and defence—a tactic unseen since World War II’s Pacific theatre in 1945.
More provocatively, he posited that the Ford’s location ensured escalation on US terms. “When Iran retaliates, and every wargame says Iran retaliates, its missiles and drones fly toward Israel. They will fly through the same airspace where a US carrier strike group is now stationed,” Perera noted. “Iran cannot retaliate against Israel without engaging American naval assets. The Ford’s position makes that physically impossible.”
This “escalation insurance”, as Perera terms it, transforms any Iranian response into an attack on US forces, triggering full military retaliation without needing further political approval. “You do not park a $13.3-billion carrier where the enemy’s return fire will hit it unless you want the enemy’s return fire to hit it,” he said.
In an explainer published on February 28, The Jerusalem Post said that the positioning of the Gerald R Ford is “first and foremost strategic and deterrent”.
“Its presence in the region provides the United States with multidimensional offensive and defensive capabilities, ranging from missile defense through an advanced dual-band radar system capable of detecting threats at vast distances, to the ability to deliver a massive aerial strike,” The Jerusalem Post explained.
US-IRAN DIPLOMATIC EFFORT COLLAPSED
With the US and Israel’s strikes on Iran, the diplomatic efforts have collapsed. The Financial Times had recently reported Tehran’s attempt to frame de-escalation as a “commercial bonanza” for the Trump administration.
Iranian officials offered access to vast energy and mineral resources — boasting the world’s third-largest crude oil reserves and second-largest natural gas reserves, per the US Energy Information Administration — to avert military escalation during Geneva talks.
This pitch, aimed at Trump’s transactional style, sought to portray restraint as a business win rather than a concession, potentially building US constituencies for peace.
However, there was scepticism among Iranian leaders, who said they were ready for both war and peace, given the massive naval buildup around Iran.
Now, as blasts in Doha and strikes on Gulf bases signal Iran’s retaliation in full swing, the Ford’s shield-like role near Israel shows Washington’s calculated architecture for dominance in the standoff over Iran’s nuclear goals.
