Trump: Another "armada" floating toward Iran right now VIDEO

U.S. President Donald Trump said that another U.S. “armada” was floating towards Iran and expressed hope that Tehran would reach an agreement with Washington, in remarks that underscored rising tensions between the two countries.

“There is another beautiful armada floating beautifully towards Iran right now,” Trump said in a speech, Caliber.Az reports.

“I hope they make a deal.”

Since Iran’s government launched a crackdown on protests accompanied by a near‑total internet blackout, Trump’s stance on intervention has been mixed, with some critics of Iran’s clerical leadership viewing U.S. pressure as a possible catalyst for change.

Trump also told the Axios news site this week: “We have a big armada next to Iran. Bigger than Venezuela,” referring to a previous deployment. But he added, “They want to make a deal. I know so. They called on numerous occasions. They want to talk.”

A U.S. aircraft carrier strike group led by the USS Abraham Lincoln has arrived in Middle Eastern waters, U.S. Central Command said earlier this week, without disclosing its precise location.

Iran has responded to the heightened U.S. military presence with warnings to neighbouring states and statements suggesting that it could treat any attack as hostile, raising the stakes across the region.

On January 22, Trump said the US has an “armada” heading toward Iran but expressed hope it would not have to be used, as he renewed warnings against Tehran killing protesters or restarting its nuclear program.

“We have a lot of ships going that direction, just in case …I'd rather not see anything happen, but we're watching them very closely,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One. He added: “We have an armada ... heading in that direction, and maybe we won't have to use it.”

U.S. officials said the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier and several guided-missile destroyers are expected to arrive in the Middle East in the coming days, alongside potential additional air-defence systems to protect U.S. bases.

By Aghakazim Guliyev