Deal or deterrence: Trump escalates military posture as Iran warned over executions and regional aggression.
U.S. President Donald Trump said Tuesday that he hopes Iran will choose negotiation over confrontation, while underscoring that the United States has significantly increased its military presence in the Middle East.
Speaking at a political rally in Iowa, Trump pointed to a growing U.S. naval deployment, describing “another beautiful armada” moving toward Iran. “So we will see,” he said, adding twice that he hopes Tehran will make a deal with Washington.
Trump has repeatedly warned Iran that severe consequences would follow if its authorities carry out executions of anti-regime protesters. He reiterated that message last Thursday during an in-flight briefing with reporters on his return from Davos to Washington, emphasizing that the U.S. has positioned a large flotilla in the region as a deterrent.
“We have a lot of ships going in that direction, just in case,” Trump said at the time. “We have a big force going toward Iran. I’d rather not see anything happen, but we’re watching them very closely.”
The president also claimed that direct U.S. pressure recently led Iran to cancel hundreds of planned executions. According to Trump, Tehran halted the hangings outright after he warned that proceeding would trigger a far harsher American response than past actions against Iran’s nuclear program.
Iran responded with sharp rhetoric. Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei warned Monday that any act of aggression against the Islamic Republic would be met with what he called a “comprehensive and regret-inducing” response.
Meanwhile, reports on Tuesday indicated that Washington is weighing targeted strikes on Iranian officials and military commanders, as internal unrest continues. The reported death toll from protests across Iran has risen to more than 36,000, highlighting the mounting pressure on Tehran amid the escalating standoff.
