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President Donald Trump said Monday that Iran wants to negotiate a deal with the United States, even as Washington dispatched an aircraft carrier strike group to the region in a show of military force.
Speaking to Axios, Trump described the situation with Iran as "in flux" and pointed to the deployment of what he called a "big armada" near Iranian waters. The president claimed Tehran has reached out multiple times seeking dialogue.
"They want to make a deal. I know so. They called on numerous occasions. They want to talk," Trump said.
The USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group arrived in the Middle East on Monday as part of what US Central Command described as efforts to "promote regional security and stability." The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier represents a significant escalation in American military presence near Iran.
The deployment comes as Iran faces domestic turmoil, with protests erupting across multiple cities since late December. The demonstrations began at Tehran's Grand Bazaar on Dec. 28, triggered by the sharp decline of the Iranian rial and deteriorating economic conditions before spreading to other urban centers.
Trump has issued contradictory signals on Iran in recent weeks. He initially threatened to "hit hard" if protesters were killed but later moderated his language, suggesting Iranian authorities had canceled hundreds of planned executions.
Iranian officials have rejected US involvement in the unrest, accusing Washington and Israel of supporting what they termed "armed rioters." Tehran has warned that any American military action would provoke a "swift and comprehensive" response.
The current standoff follows a 12-day war last June in which Israel, backed by the United States, launched military operations against Iran. Tehran responded with drone and missile attacks before Washington brokered a ceasefire.
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