Trump-Iran newest: President warns ‘time is running out’ to keep away from army strikes with ‘massive armada’ on the way in which
Donald Trump has warned Iran that “time is running out” to avert fresh military strikes as a “massive armada” makes its way to the country.
The US president renewed his recent threats of military intervention in an effort to pressure the regime into agreeing to a new nuclear deal, saying that it would face an attack “far worse” than the stealth bombing mission on its nuclear programme last year.
“Time is running out, it is truly of the essence!” he wrote on his Truth Social platform. “As I told Iran once before, MAKE A DEAL! They didn’t, and there was ‘Operation Midnight Hammer’, a major destruction of Iran.”
A large fleet, led by the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier, was on its way to the country, he added.
Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said that the US would have to “set aside threats and excessive demands“ in order to begin negotiations.
Trump initially threatened the Tehran regime with strikes earlier this month after over a brutal crackdown on anti-government demonstrators.
Trump warns Iran time is running out and says ‘our next attack will be far worse’
Sources told Axios on Tuesday that Trump has yet to make a final decision on whether to strike Iran.
He is expected to decide after holding more consultations this week, and being presented with more military options.
Alex Croft has the full story:
What does Trump want from Iran – and what happens next?
Donald Trump said in his post on Truth Social that he wanted Iran to “come to the table” and negotiate a “fair and equitable deal”, which he stressed meant “NO NUCLEAR WEAPONS”.
Last May, Trump said Iran had “sort of” agreed to the terms of a new nuclear deal with the United States. It was to replace the landmark Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or JCPOA, that Trump abandoned in his first term.
That deal would see Tehran make concessions on its nuclear programme in exchange for the lifting of sanctions. The US insists that Iran must give up its uranium enrichment to prevent the country from developing nuclear weapons.
Iran says it is not trying to build a bomb.
But within a month, the US joined Israel in striking Iranian nuclear facilities and its ballistic missile programme. The Trump administration claimed to have destroyed Iran’s nuclear programme through military action, though its intelligence said otherwise.
In December, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Donald Trump that Iran was reconstituting its enrichment sites. Axios reported that they discussed the possibility of ‘round 2’ strikes, citing a US official and two sources familiar with the details of the meeting.
Trump’s post in full: President issues Iran with chilling threat
Donald Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform on Wednesday:
“A massive Armada is heading to Iran. It is moving quickly, with great power, enthusiasm, and purpose. It is a larger fleet, headed by the great Aircraft Carrier Abraham Lincoln, than that sent to Venezuela.
“Like with Venezuela, it is, ready, willing, and able to rapidly fulfill its mission, with speed and violence, if necessary. Hopefully Iran will quickly “Come to the Table” and negotiate a fair and equitable deal – NO NUCLEAR WEAPONS – one that is good for all parties.
“Time is running out, it is truly of the essence! As I told Iran once before, MAKE A DEAL! They didn’t, and there was “Operation Midnight Hammer,” a major destruction of Iran. The next attack will be far worse! Don’t make that happen again.
“Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DONALD J. TRUMP”
Welcome to our coverage of the US mobilisation around Iran
If you are just joining us, US president Donald Trump renewed his threats against Iran on Wednesday as the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier sailed towards the Middle East.
Trump said that Iran should agree to a “deal”, which he said would mean “NO NUCLEAR WEAPONS”, or face an attack harsher than the one seen against Tehran’s nuclear programme last year.
Iran insisted it was open to dialogue but ready to defend itself.
Source: independent.co.uk
