US President Donald Trump has urged Iran to sit at the negotiating table, as the US continues to deploy a massive military presence in the Middle East region.
Trump confirmed that the USS Abraham Lincoln and its strike group are being deployed as a direct threat to the Iranian regime. The president said a major strike may be necessary if the regime of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei does not make a deal with the US.
“A massive Army is moving toward Iran. It is moving quickly, with great power, enthusiasm, and purpose. It is a larger fleet, led by the great Aircraft Carrier Abraham Lincoln, larger than the one sent to Venezuela. As with Venezuela, it is ready, willing, and able to quickly accomplish its mission, with speed and violence, if necessary,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
“We hope that Iran will ‘Sit at the Table’ soon and negotiate a fair and equitable deal – NO NUCLEAR WEAPONS – a deal that is good for all parties. Time is running out, it is truly crucial! As I told Iran once again before, MAKE A DEAL! They didn’t, and there was ‘Operation Midnight Hammer’, a major destruction of Iran. The next attack will be much worse! Don’t let it happen again,” he added.
Trump said earlier this week that Tehran appears willing to negotiate amid US military buildup.
In an interview Monday with Axios, Trump suggested that Tehran had reached out on "numerous occasions" and "wanted to make a deal."
"They want to make a deal. I know. They called a few times. They want to talk," the president said.
According to US officials, also cited by Axios, any potential deal would require Tehran to remove all enriched uranium, limit its long-range missile stockpiles, a shift in support for regional proxy forces, and a halt to independent uranium enrichment, conditions to which Iranian leaders have not agreed.
The aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln entered CENTCOM waters on Monday.
