US President Donald Trump said Iran wants to negotiate while a US aircraft carrier strike group entered Middle Eastern waters. Tensions rose after Tehran warned it would retaliate against any attack. Trump emphasized that diplomacy remains possible despite the ongoing protests crackdown and military buildup.
The USS Abraham Lincoln strike group arrived without public details of its exact location. Washington has not ruled out strikes on Iranian military sites or targeted action against leadership. Analysts say the US considers these options to pressure Tehran amid reports of weakening government control.
Read more: US signals talks but maintains Iran pressure
Trump told Axios the Islamic republic has reached out several times to seek talks. He declined to disclose the options offered by his national security team. Meanwhile, Senator Lindsey Graham said US goals include ending Iran’s current leadership system and preventing further killings.
Iranian officials issued stern warnings, saying any mistake near territorial waters could provoke an attack. They threatened to seize the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a vital global energy passage. An anti-US billboard even appeared in Tehran, showing a carrier being destroyed amid rising public tensions.
Read more: Trump, Tehran vow war in response to assassination threats
Rights groups report the crackdown is the deadliest against protests in Iran, with thousands of people killed and tens of thousands arrested. The internet blackout complicates verification of casualties and arrests. Authorities continue mass detentions, and activists claim hospitals are being searched for injured protesters.