The US Navy aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford and the vessels accompanying it have been reassigned from the Caribbean to the Middle East, postponing their anticipated return home until late April or early May, US officials told The New York Times on Thursday.

The move significantly lengthens the strike group’s deployment. The mission had initially been scheduled to wrap up with the carrier returning to its home port in early March.

According to officials who spoke anonymously, members of the Ford’s crew were notified Thursday about the change in plans. The carrier strike group is now set to operate alongside the USS Abraham Lincoln strike group in the Persian Gulf, bolstering American naval forces in the region amid continued friction with Iran.

The shift in deployment comes as President Donald Trump intensifies his administration’s pressure campaign targeting Iran’s leadership.

Trump met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on Wednesday. During their discussions, Netanyahu sought to convince the US President not to agree to a limited arrangement with Iran and to ensure that Israel’s security concerns remain protected.

On Thursday, Trump urged Tehran to reach an agreement, cautioning the Islamic Republic “it’s going to be very traumatic if they do not.

Earlier this year, aircraft from the USS Gerald R. Ford participated in the January 3 operation in Caracas that led to the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. So far, US military officials have not issued a public statement regarding the latest redeployment.