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U.S. President Donald Trump said the United States has deployed a substantial naval force to the Middle East amid heightened tensions with Iran, expressing hope that military action will not be necessary while urging Tehran to reach a deal.
"We have a big armada going over there right now, and hopefully we won't have to use it. But it's very powerful, bigger than what we have in Venezuela that we sent over that worked out so well," Trump said in a radio interview released Tuesday.
Speaking later at an event in Iowa, Trump confirmed additional military movements.
"By the way, there is another beautiful armada heading toward Iran right now. So we'll see. I hope they make a deal. I hope they make a deal," Trump told supporters.
"They should have made a deal the first time. They'd have a country," he added, targeting the Tehran government.
The U.S. deployed the USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group to the Middle East on Monday "to promote regional security and stability."
Additional Patriot and THAAD air defense systems have also been moved to the Middle East, according to media reports.
In his Iowa remarks, Trump made notable comments regarding military operations against Iran's nuclear capacity.
"In June, in Operation Midnight Hammer, we destroyed Iran's nuclear capacity," Trump said, adding that, "People had been waiting 22 years for this to be done. They were a month away, we had to do it."
Tens of thousands of people rallied across Iranian cities over economic grievances, prompting Trump to warn of U.S. intervention if the Iranian government continued to use lethal force against "peaceful" protesters.
Trump later softened his rhetoric after claiming on "good authority" that the killing of protesters had stopped and that Tehran had canceled plans for mass executions.
Iranian officials have warned that any U.S. attack would provoke a "swift and comprehensive" response.
Iran has repeatedly said it will not engage in talks under pressure, while U.S. officials have signaled conditional openness to diplomacy, keeping prospects of near-term negotiations uncertain.
Trump used the Iowa event to launch his midterm election campaign, emphasizing the importance of Republican victories.
"We must win the midterms," Trump said, adding that, "If we lose the midterms, you will lose many of the things we talked about, this leads to very bad things."
Addressing voters for both the House of Representatives and Senate races, Trump said: "That's why I'm here, we are launching the midterm campaign."
Trump warned supporters that Democrats would attempt to impeach him if they regain control of the House.
"If the Democrats take back the House, they will try to impeach me," Trump said during a roadside restaurant visit in Iowa before his speech.
Trump also asked his supporters whether he should run for a fourth presidential term, receiving significant applause in response.
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