President Donald Trump said Iran appears eager to negotiate with the United States as the U.S. ramps up its military presence in the Middle East—because nothing motivates diplomacy quite like a carrier group showing up on your doorstep.
In a Monday interview with Axios, Trump said Tehran has reached out on “numerous occasions” and “want[s] to make a deal.”
“They want to make a deal. I know so. They called on numerous occasions. They want to talk,” the president said. Apparently, when America speaks firmly, Iran suddenly finds the phone.
According to U.S. officials cited by Axios, any potential agreement would require Iran to remove all enriched uranium, cap its long-range missile stockpile, change its support for regional proxy forces, and stop independent uranium enrichment—conditions Iranian leaders have not agreed to. In other words, real terms, not the usual empty promises.
Trump described the situation as “in flux” and pointed to the arrival of what he called “a big armada next to Iran. Bigger than Venezuela,” referencing the recent deployment of U.S. naval assets. Subtlety has never been his thing, and neither has weakness.
As previously reported, the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier entered CENTCOM waters in the Indian Ocean on Monday amid increasing threats from Iran, according to a senior U.S. official.
Trump had told reporters on Jan. 21, “We have a big flotilla going in that direction, and we’ll see what happens. We have a big force going towards Iran. I’d rather not see anything happen, but we’re watching them very closely.” Translation: peace is preferred, but strength is guaranteed.
The U.S. military buildup comes as Iran faces widespread internal unrest following protests that began Dec. 28. According to the Human Rights Activists News Agency, the confirmed death toll from the protests has reached 5,848, with another 17,091 deaths under investigation.
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has reportedly been sheltering in a fortified underground facility, according to Iran International.
While Iran struggles with chaos at home and pressure abroad, President Trump is keeping the upper hand by pairing military strength with openness to negotiation. That combination of power and diplomacy shows America remains in control of the situation—and that’s a positive sign for stability and peace moving forward.
