President Donald Trump has escalated tensions with Iran, warning that a large US naval armada is approaching the country and is prepared to use force if Tehran does not agree to negotiate a new nuclear deal. In a social media post on Wednesday, Trump described the fleet, led by the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, as larger than the one sent to Venezuela and ready to 'fulfil its missions with speed and violence if necessary'.
Trump urged Iran to 'come to the table' and make a deal, stating 'time is running out'. He referenced a past operation, 'Operation Midnight Hammer', claiming it had caused 'major destruction' and warned the next attack would be 'far worse'. The president's remarks mark a shift from earlier rhetoric focused on Iranian protests to concerns over Tehran's nuclear programme.
Activists report over 30,000 people have been killed during recent unrest in Iran. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told the Senate that the Iranian government is 'probably weaker than it has ever been', but cautioned that Iranian missiles and drones still pose a threat to US personnel. Rubio noted that around 30,000 US troops are within range of Iranian ballistic missiles, and said Washington would maintain a 'preemptive defensive option' if an attack were imminent.
In response, Ali Shamkani, a senior adviser to Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, warned on social media that 'any military action by America will be considered the beginning of a war', and that the response would be 'immediate, comprehensive and unprecedented', targeting Tel Aviv and all US supporters. Iran has stated it will not negotiate under duress or with preconditions.
European diplomats expect a crisis to develop, with Gulf states and Turkey mediating between the two sides. Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff said a deal must address missiles, enrichment, proxies, and Iran's nuclear material. The US also appears to be seeking curbs on Iran's long-range missile programme, while Trump has suggested that Khamenei should leave the world stage, a demand Iran rejects.
