Trump has linked avoiding military action to reaching a deal that would limit Iran’s nuclear activities. Western countries fear Iran could be moving toward building a nuclear bomb, though Tehran denies this.

“We have to make a deal, otherwise it's going to be very traumatic, very traumatic. I don't want that to happen, but we have to make a deal,” Trump told reporters.

The US had already deployed the USS Abraham Lincoln to the region as a signal to Iran. Reports say a second aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R Ford, along with its escort ships, will now also head to the Middle East.

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According to US media, the Ford and its fleet are currently in the Caribbean and are expected to remain deployed until late April or early May.

Tensions between Washington and Tehran have increased since protests in Iran last month, during which rights groups reported thousands of deaths.

Despite the military buildup, diplomatic efforts are continuing. Iranian and US representatives held talks in Oman last week, though no new meeting dates have been confirmed.

Trump has expressed cautious optimism about a possible agreement. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, after meeting Trump in Washington, said the US president believes he may secure a “good deal”. However, Netanyahu remains doubtful unless Iran’s ballistic missile program is also addressed.

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Earlier this year, the US joined Israel during a 12-day conflict with Iran and carried out strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. It remains unclear what targets the US would choose if new military action is ordered.

There is also no clear consensus on whether Washington would seek broader political changes inside Iran.