Donald Trump has warned Iran that 'time is running out' to negotiate a deal on its nuclear programme following the steady build-up of US military forces in the Gulf.
The US president said a 'massive Armada' was 'moving quickly, with great power, enthusiasm, and purpose' towards Iran in a post on his Truth Social platform.
In response, Iran's mission to the UN stated that Tehran 'stands ready for dialogue based on mutual respect and interests', but warned that if pushed, it would defend itself and 'respond like never before'.
Trump had previously stated he would 'rescue' protesters involved in the brutal crackdown on demonstrations in Iran earlier this month.
The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) has confirmed the killing of nearly 6,000 people, including 5,633 protesters, since the unrest began at the end of December. They are also investigating another 17,000 reported deaths despite an internet shutdown.
Another group, the Norway-based Iran Human Rights (IHR), warns that the final toll could exceed 25,000.
'Hopefully Iran will quickly 'Come to the Table' and negotiate a fair and equitable deal - NO NUCLEAR WEAPONS,' Trump wrote.
Iran insists its nuclear programme is entirely peaceful and has repeatedly denied seeking to develop nuclear weapons.
The US president emphasized that the naval force in the Gulf is larger than a previous deployment which led to the seizure of Venezuela's former leader Nicolás Maduro. He mentioned that this force is 'ready, willing, and able' to act if necessary.
Trump also issued a warning about the possibility of future strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, following previous attacks during Israel's conflict last year, stating: 'The next attack will be far worse! Don't make that happen again.'
Earlier, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi criticized the U.S., stating: 'Conducting diplomacy through military threat cannot be effective or useful.'
He added, 'If they [the US] want negotiations to take shape, they must certainly set aside threats, excessive demands and raising illogical issues.'
Using open-source tools, it has been tracked that a naval 'armada' led by the USS Abraham Lincoln has arrived in the Middle East.
In June 2025, US strikes targeted three uranium enrichment facilities, significantly delaying Iran's nuclear ambitions, according to U.S. defense officials.
