US President Donald Trump has stated that a large number of American naval vessels are currently heading toward Iran, expressing hope that military force will not be necessary.
“Right now, many of our very large, very powerful ships are sailing toward Iran, and it would be good if we didn’t have to use them,” Trump told reporters.
Asked whether he had communicated with Iranian officials in recent days and whether he plans to do so again, the US president responded:
“I have, and I plan to. Many of our very large, very powerful ships are heading toward Iran right now, and hopefully we won’t have to use them.”
Trump said that during conversations with the Iranian side, he delivered two clear demands: that Iran must not pursue nuclear weapons and that it must stop killing protesters.
“I told them two things: first, no nuclear weapons, and second, stop killing protesters. They are killing thousands of people,” Trump said. “You know, two weeks ago I stopped the execution of 837 people by hanging. But they have to do something. Nobody has ever seen anything like this.”
The remarks come amid heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran, as well as ongoing international concern over Iran’s nuclear program and its treatment of domestic protesters.
Image: Rebecca Noble/Getty Images
