Jared Kushner and President Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff visited the USS Abraham Lincoln after holding indirect talks with Iranian officials in Oman. Invited by CENTCOM commander Adm. Brad Cooper, the visit was framed as a gesture of thanks to sailors and Marines amid a heightened U.S. military presence in the region. Witkoff highlighted meeting Carrier Air Wing 9 and the pilot who shot down an Iranian drone; the U.S. also announced new sanctions on Iranian oil and 14 vessels after the talks. Both sides have agreed to pursue follow-up discussions, though no date has been set.
Kushner and Witkoff Visit USS Abraham Lincoln Amid Tensions and Ongoing Diplomacy With Iran
An aerial view of the USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group on February 6, 2026. - US Central Command/Anadolu/Getty Images
President Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, accompanied by the president’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, visited the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier on Saturday morning after concluding indirect talks with Iranian officials in Oman on Friday.
The visit, part of the Lincoln Carrier Strike Group, was at the invitation of U.S. Central Command commander Adm. Brad Cooper, a senior U.S. official told reporters. The trip was described as a gesture of appreciation for American sailors and Marines deployed in the region.
Diplomacy Amid Military Posture
The visit underscored the dual approach the United States has taken in recent weeks: pursuing indirect negotiations with Iran while maintaining a robust military presence in the Middle East. Officials said the U.S. has increased forces in the region as President Trump weighed potential strike options, though no decision to launch military action had been announced.
What Happened Onboard
Following the visit, Witkoff posted on X that he, Kushner and Adm. Cooper "met with the brave sailors and Marines aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, her strike group, and Carrier Air Wing 9 who are keeping us safe and upholding President Trump’s message of peace through strength." He said the delegation observed live flight operations and spoke with the pilot who shot down an Iranian drone that had approached the carrier in the Arabian Sea.
Central Command confirmed in a news release that Cooper, Witkoff and Kushner met with the ship’s crew and that Cooper "expressed his gratitude for their service," highlighting the carrier’s role in regional deterrence and forward presence.
Talks, Sanctions and Next Steps
The carrier visit came after the delegation’s reported indirect talks in Oman. President Trump told reporters the discussions had been "very good" and suggested Iran appeared eager to strike a deal, but he also said a "big fleet" was en route to the region. The Oman meetings — mediated by Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi — represented the first direct negotiating contacts since U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran last summer.
Shortly after the talks, the U.S. announced new sanctions targeting Iranian oil shipments and imposed measures on 14 vessels believed to be carrying Iranian crude, signaling continued economic pressure alongside diplomacy. A source familiar with the discussions said both sides agreed to pursue follow-up talks after consulting with their capitals, though no firm date had been confirmed.
A regional source told reporters that Omani and Iranian officials were aware of the planned carrier visit before it took place. The White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
"Proud to stand with the men and women who defend our interests, deter our adversaries, and show the world what American readiness and resolve look like, on watch every day," Witkoff wrote on X.
This story was updated with additional reporting. CNN’s Nadeen Ebrahim and Mostafa Salem contributed to the original report.
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