US President Donald Trump has issued a strong warning to Iran, urging Tehran to promptly return to negotiations and reach what he described as a “fair agreement” that excludes the development of nuclear weapons.
Writing on the social media platform Truth Social, Trump said he hopes Iran will “quickly sit down at the negotiating table,” stressing that time is now a decisive factor.
Trump claimed that a “massive armada” is heading toward Iran, led by the aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln. He claimed the deployment is larger than the fleet previously sent to Venezuela and emphasized that it is moving “with great strength and enthusiasm,” fully prepared to carry out its mission at maximum speed if necessary.
“Time is of the essence now,” Trump wrote, reinforcing the urgency of the situation.
The US president recalled that he had previously urged Iran to make a deal, warning that its refusal had resulted in what he referred to as “Operation Midnight Hammer,” which, he said, led to significant destruction in Iran. Trump cautioned that any future strike would be far more powerful. He urged Iranian leaders not to allow such a scenario to repeat itself.
Relations between the United States and Iran remain deeply strained over Tehran’s nuclear program, regional security concerns, and the ongoing sanctions regime. Washington maintains that Iran is approaching the threshold of nuclear weapons capability, a claim Iran has consistently denied, insisting its nuclear activities are purely peaceful.
The increased US military presence in the region is widely seen as a pressure tactic aimed at pushing Iran back into diplomatic talks. Trump’s latest remarks underscore a dual-track approach of military deterrence and diplomatic pressure, while signaling that, in his words, the window for negotiations is rapidly closing.
Header image: Andrew Harnik/Getty Images
