Trump threatens Iran with ‘massive armada’ in Gulf and says time is running out to agree nuclear deal

Iran has its ‘fingers on the trigger’ to respond to aggression from the United States, the country’s foreign minister warned, after Donald Trump threatened fresh military action over its nuclear programme.

In a post on Truth Social, Mr Trump told Iran that “time is running out” to make a deal, and that the “next attack” by US forces will be “far worse” than previous strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities last year. He added that a “massive armada” was on its way to the country in preparation for possible military action.

“Like with Venezuela, it [the armarda] is ready, willing, and able to rapidly fulfill its mission, with speed and violence, if necessary,” he wrote, adding it was “moving quickly, with great power, enthusiasm, and purpose”.

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The US president said he hoped Iran will come to the table for a “fair and equitable deal” to ensure it had “NO NUCLEAR WEAPONS”.

In response, Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araqchi warned on X that Iran's armed forces "are prepared - with their fingers on the trigger - to immediately and powerfully respond to ANY aggression."

"At the same time," Mr Araqchi added, "Iran has always welcomed a mutually beneficial, fair and equitable NUCLEAR DEAL - on equal footing, and free from coercion, threats, and intimidation - which ensures Iran's rights to PEACEFUL nuclear technology, and guarantees NO NUCLEAR WEAPONS."

Iran’s mission to the UN said Tehran was “ready for dialogue based on mutual respect and interests”, but added: “BUT IF PUSHED, IT WILL DEFEND ITSELF AND RESPOND LIKE NEVER BEFORE!"

The exchanges mark an escalation of the standoff between the two countries.

Trump’s threats of a renewed attack on Iran began after widespread protests erupted in late December across the country, with hundreds of thousands believed to have taken to the street to voice their discontent with the Iranian regime.

Sources told Axios on Tuesday that Trump has yet to make a final decision on whether to strike Iran. He is expected to decide after holding more consultations this week, and being presented with more military options.

The source told the outlet that a diplomatic resolution was still possible, adding: “They want to make a deal. I know so. They called on numerous occasions. They want to talk.”

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Earlier this month, Trump initially warned the U.S. would carry out strikes on Iran if it did not stop killing protesters on the streets, and if it executed any of the thousands that were arrested during the unrest.

But the US president held off from ordering an attack after the protests largely abated following a regime crackdown which some estimates say killed tens of thousands of people.

On Monday, a US aircraft carrier and several warships arrived in the Middle East, intensifying concerns that Trump may order a strike.

The president had already warned that an “armada” was on its way, saying his administration was “watching” Iran following weeks of deadly protests across the country.

The USS Abraham Lincoln and a number of guided-missile destroyers are in the Middle East region, which comes under the US military’s Central Command, U.S. officials said on Monday.

“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 told reporters on board Air Force One last Thursday.

“We have an armada ... heading in that direction, and maybe we won’t have to use it.”