Iran warns it has ‘finger on the trigger’ after Trump’s massive armada threat | News World

Donald Trump has warned Iran that ‘time is running out’ to make a deal on nuclear weapons following the deployment of US warships within the Gulf.

The president said a ‘massive Armada’ led by the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln was heading toward the region.

Speaking aboard Air Force One, he said his next attack will make last June’s bombing raid on Iranian nuclear sites ‘seem like peanuts’.

In response, Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran’s armed forces were ready ‘with their fingers on the trigger’ to ‘immediately and powerfully respond’ to any aggression.

Iran’s currency, the rial, fell to a record low of 1.6 million to $1 a month for the reason that start of protests that spread nationwide and sparked a bloody crackdown.

Its value has been plunging since late last 12 months and is down from about 32,000 to $1 a decade ago. Economic woes had sparked the protests that broadened into difficult the ruling regime.

Trump has previously threatened to make use of force in response to the killing of peaceful demonstrators and over possible mass executions.

A minimum of 6,373 people have been killed within the protests, activists said.

Trump also indicated Wednesday that he wants movement toward a deal that his administration has been looking for with Tehran over its nuclear program.

‘Hopefully Iran will quickly “Come to the Table” and negotiate a good and equitable deal – NO NUCLEAR WEAPONS – one which is nice for all parties,’ he wrote on his Truth Social platform.

‘Time is running out, it is really of the essence!’

Mentioning the June strikes on Iran because the US inserted itself in Israel’s 12-day war on the Islamic Republic, Trump wrote: ‘The subsequent attack shall be far worse!’

Iran insists its nuclear program is civilian, and said it is prepared for dialogue ‘based on mutual respect and interests’ but would defend itself ‘like never before’ if pushed.

Tehran’s mission to the United Nations was quick to answer the US president, posting on X that ‘Iran stands ready for dialogue based on mutual respect and interests—BUT IF PUSHED, IT WILL DEFEND ITSELF AND RESPOND LIKE NEVER BEFORE!’

Trump has not publicly detailed what he’s on the lookout for in any deal.

Previous negotiating points have included banning Iran from independently enriching uranium and restrictions on long-range ballistic missiles and its network of armed proxies within the Middle East.

The USS Abraham Lincoln and three accompanying warships have arrived within the Middle East on a mission to ‘promote regional security and stability’, in keeping with the US Central Command.

The strike group was within the Indian Ocean, Central Command said, and never within the Arabian Sea, which borders Iran.

It would bring 1000’s of additional service members to the region, which has not had a US aircraft carrier since the USS Gerald R Ford was ordered in October to sail to the Caribbean as a part of a pressure campaign on then-Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the increasing military presence within the Middle East has been put in place ‘to defend against what may very well be an Iranian threat against our personnel’.

‘I feel it’s sensible and prudent to have a force posture throughout the region that would respond and … if crucial, pre-emptively prevent the attack against 1000’s of American servicemen and other facilities within the region and our allies,’ Rubio told Congress.

He was cautious regarding the prospect of a change in government, though he described the regime as ‘probably weaker than it has ever been’.

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, 86, has retreated from day by day governance, reduced public appearances and is believed to be residing in secure locations after Israeli strikes last 12 months decimated lots of Iran’s senior military leaders, in keeping with regional officials.

Day-to-day management has shifted to figures aligned with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), including senior adviser Ali Larijani, they said. The powerful Guards dominate Iran’s security network and large parts of the economy.

Nonetheless, Khamenei retains final authority over war, succession and nuclear strategy – meaning political change may be very difficult until he exits the scene, they said.

Iran’s state-run media, which now only refers to protesters as ‘terrorists’, stays the only real source of stories for a lot of as Tehran cut off access to the worldwide web three weeks ago. 

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