Trump issues fresh threat to Iran as pressure mounts on regime

Donald Trump has been escalating threats toward Iran in recent days, warning of possible military action as tensions rise in the Middle East.

Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Saturday night, Trump said that the United States has “really big powerful ships” heading toward Iran, although he refused to reveal specific plans. “I certainly can’t tell you that, but we do have really big powerful ships heading in that direction, as you know. I can’t tell you, but I hope to negotiate something that’s acceptable,” he said.

Trump was also asked about remarks from Saudi Arabia’s Defence Minister, Khalid bin Salman, who suggested that failure by Washington to act militarily against Iran could strengthen the regime. Trump responded cautiously: “Some people think that and some people don’t. If you could make a negotiated deal that would be satisfactory with no nuclear weapons, they should do that. I don’t know that they will, but they’re talking to us, seriously talking to us.”

The US president’s focus on Iran comes amid Tehran’s violent crackdown on protests that erupted in late December, as citizens took to the streets to express frustration over the country’s severe economic conditions. In January, Trump pledged that the United States would “rescue” Iranian protesters if the authorities used violence against them.

While the full scale of the repression is difficult to measure due to internet blackouts and strict restrictions on international journalists, some human rights groups estimate that tens of thousands of people may have been killed by Iranian forces.

Trump has maintained pressure on Iran over the past week, highlighting the movement of a “beautiful armada,” including the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and three accompanying destroyers, toward Iranian waters. On January 30, he appeared to issue a clear warning, stating that Iran needed to commit to “no nuclear” weapons and stop killing protesters to avoid military action.

However, on Saturday, Trump hinted that a diplomatic resolution might still be possible. He said the Iranian regime was “talking to” the US, adding, “[Iran is] talking to us, and we’ll see if we can do something, otherwise we’ll see what happens … We have a big fleet heading out there. They are negotiating.”