Donald Trump has reiterated his desire to hit Iran with ‘major destruction’ that could see new US airstrikes on the country within a few days.
The US president said his nation’s ‘massive armada’ is ready to strike with ‘speed and violence’ if the Islamic regime does not drop its nuclear ambitions.
Writing on Truth Social today, Trump said: ‘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 fulfill 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.’
The Economist’s defence editor, Shashank Joshi, told the BBC’s Today Programme that a US attack on Iran was ‘likely in the coming days’, adding: ‘We are still on a path to a large, substantial US military strike.’In response, Iran’s mission to the UN said Tehran ‘stands ready for dialogue based on mutual respect and interests’, but if provoked, ‘IT WILL DEFEND ITSELF AND RESPOND LIKE NEVER BEFORE’.
This comes after Trump has repeatedly threatened to launch a major military operation against Iran over its treatment of its civilians amid the civil uprising that began last month.
There were claims that Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s forces have slaughtered at least 30,000 people, following the start of mass protests across the country in late December that have since apparently been quelled.
Now, the United States Navy’s Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group entered the Central Command’s zone of responsibility on Monday, after being redirected from operations in the Indo-Pacific, providing America with the ability to respond to the crisis.
