Washington (TDI): President Donald Trump on Thursday confirmed that a US naval “armada” is heading toward the Gulf, signaling sustained pressure on Iran even as he has recently downplayed the likelihood of immediate military action.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One after returning from the World Economic Forum in Davos, Trump said the United States is “watching Iran very closely” and described the force as “a massive fleet” sent “just in case,” though he added, “maybe we won’t have to use it.”
Trump reiterated that previous US threats had helped stop hundreds of executions of protesters amid Iran’s crackdown on anti-government demonstrations. He also confirmed he is open to diplomatic engagement with Tehran.
According to US officials, the naval deployment includes an aircraft carrier strike group with the USS Abraham Lincoln, several destroyers, and fighter aircraft, moving from the Asia-Pacific toward the Middle East. Additional air defense assets are reportedly under consideration. Experts note such deployments are often defensive but also serve as a show of force.
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Trump emphasized that the United States would act if Iran resumes its nuclear program. “They can’t do the nuclear,” he told CNBC, referencing last year’s US strikes on Iranian enrichment facilities. “If they do it, it’s going to happen again.”
Meanwhile, Iran has reported 3,117 deaths from the recent protests, though rights groups suggest the real toll could be higher. The demonstrations, which began in late December over economic hardship, have largely subsided, but US officials remain alert to potential renewed unrest.
Read More: Netanyahu, Regional Allies Press Trump to Delay Iran Military Action
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has not verified Iran’s stock of highly enriched uranium in over seven months. According to IAEA estimates, Iran possesses enough material near weapons-grade purity to potentially produce 10 nuclear bombs if further enriched.
