President Donald Trump said on Thursday that the United States has an “armada” heading toward Iran but expressed hope it would not need to be used, renewing warnings to Tehran over both human rights violations and its nuclear ambitions.
Speaking aboard Air Force One after the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Trump said U.S. forces are moving into the Middle East to deter further executions of protesters and to respond to any potential nuclear activities.
“We have a lot of ships going that direction, just in case… I’d rather not see anything happen, but we’re watching them very closely,” Trump said. “We have an armada… heading in that direction, and maybe we won’t have to use it.”
Military Deployment
U.S. officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, along with several guided-missile destroyers, will arrive in the region in the coming days. Additional air-defense systems are being considered to protect U.S. bases in the area.
These deployments expand Trump’s options, both to defend U.S. forces and to prepare for potential further military action against Iranian nuclear facilities, following last year’s June strikes on key sites.
Iran Nuclear Program
Trump reiterated that the United States would act if Iran attempted to resume nuclear activity. “If they try to do it again, they have to go to another area. We’ll hit them there too, just as easily,” he said.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has not verified Iran’s stock of highly enriched uranium for at least seven months. Iran is expected to report on the status of nuclear sites and the 440.9 kg of uranium enriched up to 60% purity, which could theoretically be enough for up to ten nuclear bombs if further enriched.
Protests and Human Rights
Trump also addressed Iran’s domestic unrest, noting that Tehran canceled nearly 840 executions following his threats. “At an hour before this horrible thing was going to take place, they canceled it,” he said, calling it “a good sign.”
Protests in Iran, which began in late December over economic hardship, have claimed thousands of lives. U.S.-based rights group HRANA has verified 4,519 deaths linked to unrest, including 4,251 protesters, with 9,049 additional cases under review. Iranian officials reported over 5,000 confirmed deaths, including around 500 security personnel.
“Nobody knows… I mean, it’s a lot, no matter what,” Trump said when asked about the protest death toll, underscoring the severity of the unrest.
