Donald Trump points contemporary conflict risk to Iran – ‘Big highly effective ships are coming’

Donald Trump has issued another threat to Iran, saying “big powerful ships” are making their way to the Middle East.

It comes just days after Trump said a “massive Armada” was on its way to Iran as he demanded the regime agree to a deal over nuclear weapons.

When asked what his thinking is regarding Iran onboard Air Force One today, the US president said: “I certainly can’t tell you that, but we do have really big powerful ships heading in that direction, as you know… I can’t tell you, but I hope to negotiate something that’s acceptable.”

On Tuesday, Trump said an “Armada” of ships would be heading to Iran- and claimed it would be a larger fleet than the one sent to Venezuela during the toppling of Nicolás Maduro.

Referring to the targeted strikes on key nuclear facilities last summer, he warned Tehran that they must “come to the table” and negotiate a nuclear weapons deal – or “the next attack will be far worse”.

He wrote on his Truth Social platform: “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 fulfil 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!”

It comes after Trump warned it would be “dangerous” for the UK to do business with China, as Sir Keir Starmer touched down in Shanghai this week. The Prime Minister met Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday as he made the case for a “more sophisticated” relationship between the two countries.

Asked by reporters early on Friday about the UK’s efforts to strengthen economic ties with China, Trump expressed disapproval. “Well, it’s very dangerous for them to do that, and it’s even more dangerous, I think, for Canada to get into business with China,” he said. He added that Canada was doing “poorly” and said “you can’t look at China as the answer”.