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Washington: The world’s largest aircraft carrier, USS Gerald R. Ford, which had been deployed in operations against Iran, has now left the Persian Gulf, a senior US official said on Friday.

The withdrawal of this massive warship comes at a time when diplomatic talks between the United States and Iran appear to have slowed, sparking global curiosity.

Currently, the vessel is operating under the US European Command, and its role in the region will now be taken over by two other aircraft carriers — USS Abraham Lincoln and USS George H. W. Bush. At present, a total of 20 US warships remain deployed in the Middle East, monitoring Iran’s activities.

The carrier had been continuously deployed at sea for over 10 months and participated in several key operations. It played a significant role in intercepting drug trafficking in the Caribbean Sea and seizing sanctioned oil tankers. Analysts note that this extended deployment demonstrated the operational strength of the US Navy.

However, the long deployment was not without challenges. On March 12, a fire broke out in the ship’s laundry section, injuring two sailors and damaging nearly 100 beds in the crew’s sleeping quarters.

In addition, technical issues with the ship’s advanced toilet systems caused inconvenience for personnel. Frequent blockages forced hundreds of crew members to stand in long queues, according to US media reports.

Although a ceasefire is currently in place between the United States and Iran, tensions between the two nations remain unresolved. The strategically important Strait of Hormuz continues to witness heightened tensions, raising concerns over potential disruptions to global trade.

In this tense backdrop, the withdrawal of a key US warship has raised fresh questions about whether diplomatic negotiations between the two countries have stalled completely.