US President Donald Trump said that a large US naval force was moving toward the Gulf, maintaining pressure on Iran despite easing talk of immediate military action. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump said Washington was monitoring Iran’s actions.
Earlier this month, Trump stepped back from threats of strikes after the White House said Iran had paused planned executions of anti-government protesters. However, he stressed that military preparations were still underway. “We have a lot of ships going that direction, just in case,” he said, describing the deployment as an “armada” and a “massive fleet.” At the same time, he added that he hoped force would not be necessary.
Trump repeated his claim that US pressure helped stop hundreds of executions and confirmed he remained open to dialogue with Tehran. Meanwhile, Iranian authorities reported that more than 3,100 people were killed during months of protests, although rights groups say the actual toll may be far higher.
US assets move into the Middle East region
US officials confirmed that an aircraft carrier strike group, led by the USS Abraham Lincoln, along with destroyers and fighter aircraft, would arrive in the Middle East in the coming days. The assets began redeploying from the Asia-Pacific last week as tensions rose following Iran’s crackdown on demonstrations.
Officials said Washington was also considering additional air defence systems for the region, noting that such deployments can be defensive. However, analysts recalled a similar build-up last year that preceded US strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities.
Trump said on Wednesday that he hoped to avoid further military action but warned that the United States would respond if Iran restarted its nuclear programme. The International Atomic Energy Agency has urged Tehran to comply with inspections, as concerns persist over its stock of highly enriched uranium.
