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By Brendan Cole
Senior Reporter
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U.S. President Donald Trump has touted the size of an "armada" near Iran in another warning of Washington's intervention in protests in the Islamic Republic, which he says wants to cut a deal.
Trump told Axios on Monday that the situation in Iran was "in flux," and that the American military presence in the waters near Iran was bigger than the one he had deployed near Venezuela—whose leader, Nicolás Maduro, the U.S. removed from power earlier this month.
The Iranian government said on Tuesday that it was maintaining full military readiness while pursuing a diplomatic path.
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Newsweek has contacted the Iranian Foreign Ministry for comment.
Why It Matters
Trump's comments to Axios update his statement last week that an "armada" was on its way to the Middle East, following his threat earlier this month of American intervention in Iran in response to Tehran's violent crackdown on protesters.
USS Abraham Lincoln and guided-missile destroyers have arrived in the region, which comes under the U.S. military's Central Command (CENTCOM), American officials said on Monday. Trump's remarks raise anticipation of negotiations with Tehran or military action.
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What To Know
During his interview with Axios, Trump referenced the dispatch of an aircraft carrier strike group to the Middle East after USS Abraham Lincoln entered CENTCOM's area of responsibility on Monday.
The warships began deploying from the Asia-Pacific region earlier in January amid a spike in tensions between Tehran and Washington after a crackdown on protests in Iran that has killed thousands.
Death tolls vary. One report puts the figure at 30,000, according to Time, citing two senior officials in Tehran's Health Ministry.
The U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency said there were 5,459 deaths, but that it was investigating thousands more, while Iranian authorities put the figure at just over 3,000.
Trump had threatened to intervene if Iran continued to kill protesters, but the demonstrations have eased, and the president said he was told that killings were subsiding and there was no plan to execute those who had been arrested.
In the interview, Trump teased the chance of a deal with Iranian leaders who "want to talk" but did not offer further details.
The U.S. president ordered strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities in June after American and Israeli intelligence assessed Tehran could produce a crude nuclear device within months. The facilities were damaged, but the status of Iran's uranium stockpile is unclear.
Iran's ambassador to the United Nations, Amir Saeid Iravani, said the U.N. Security Council must condemn what he described as violations by the United States, accusing Washington of threatening sovereign countries.
Meanwhile, Fatemeh Mohajerani, a spokesperson for the Iranian government, told a news conference on Tuesday that Tehran's approach toward the U.S. was to keep full military readiness while pursuing a diplomatic path, according to Iran International, a global satellite channel.
U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham, a Republican from South Carolina, said on X that U.S. decisions on Iran and the wider region must protect "our people," including Iranian protesters and the Kurds. He said abandoning them would be a historic failure.
What People Are Saying
U.S. President Donald Trump told Axios: "We have a big armada next to Iran. Bigger than Venezuela. ... They want to make a deal. I know so. They called on numerous occasions. They want to talk."
U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham wrote on X: "I pray for President Trump and his team to make the right decisions to keep America safe at this dangerous time. History tells us the right decision is to stand by those who stand with America and sacrifice for our common cause."
Fatemeh Mohajerani, a spokesperson for the Iranian government, said at a news conference, per Iran International: "The issue of war has cast a heavy shadow over the country and naturally made conditions difficult and complex. ... This does not mean other options are off the table. We are in full readiness."
What Happens Next
The U.S. military has announced an upcoming exercise in the region "to demonstrate the ability to deploy, disperse, and sustain combat airpower."
White House officials have said a U.S. attack is still being considered, but Trump has not made a final decision, according to Axios. The outlet reported that Trump would hold more consultations this week and be presented with additional military options.
However, Trump's comments tease the prospect of negotiations with Tehran, which would likely include removing from Iran all enriched uranium, capping its long-range missiles and stopping its support for proxies in the region.
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