Washington/Davos:
US President Donald Trump on Thursday said a US naval “armada” is moving toward the Persian Gulf, signaling continued military pressure on Iran, even as he downplayed the likelihood of immediate military action.
The statement comes days after Trump stepped back from an earlier threat to strike Iran over its violent crackdown on anti-government protests, following reports that Iranian authorities had halted planned executions of demonstrators.
Despite that pullback, Trump confirmed that military preparations are ongoing.
“Big Force Going Toward Iran”
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One while returning from the World Economic Forum in Davos, Trump said the US was closely monitoring Tehran.
“We’re watching Iran,” Trump said.
“You know we have a lot of ships going that direction, just in case… We have a big force going toward Iran.”
He described the deployment as a “massive fleet” and an “armada”, but added that he hoped force would not be required.
“I’d rather not see anything happen, but we’re watching them very closely,” he said.
“Maybe we won’t have to use it.”
Aircraft Carrier Strike Group Deployed
US media reports over the past week have said that the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group was redirected from exercises in the South China Sea to the Middle East, underscoring Washington’s heightened military posture in the region.
Trump Credits Threats For Stopping Executions
Trump reiterated his claim that his warnings of possible US military action had prevented the execution of protesters in Iran.
He said his pressure had stopped 837 planned hangings of demonstrators.
The White House had earlier said Iran paused executions amid growing international scrutiny.
Iran Protest Death Toll
Iranian authorities on Wednesday released their first official death toll from the protests, stating that 3,117 people were killed.
However, human rights groups say the actual number of deaths could be significantly higher.
The protests, which erupted over political repression and economic hardship, appear to have eased in recent days, according to observers.
Military Option Still On Table
Trump once again left open the possibility of future military action, noting that the US has not ruled out force against Iran.
Washington had backed and joined Israel’s 12-day military campaign in June, aimed at weakening Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile capabilities.
At the same time, Trump confirmed he remains open to talks with Tehran, maintaining his long-standing approach of combining military pressure with diplomacy.