Donald Trump has issued his latest threat to Iran by claiming ‘big powerful ships’ are on their way to the Middle Eastern country.
Donning a tuxedo aboard Air Force One, the US President was asked by a reporter on an update on what his ‘thinking is right now with Iran?’
Trump responded: ‘I certainly can’t tell you that, but we do have really big powerful ships heading in that direction, as you know.
‘I can’t tell you, but I hope to negotiate something that’s acceptable.’
The US leader was then quizzed on a reported statement from the Saudi Arabia Defense Minister, who said that if the US backs off a strike, it would only embolden Tehran.
Asked for his reaction to this, Trump replied: ‘Some people think that and some people don’t.
‘If you could make a negotiated deal that would be satisfactory with no nuclear weapons, they should do that.
‘I don’t know that they will, but they’re talking to us, seriously talking to us.’
Donning a tuxedo aboard Air Force One, the US President was asked by a reporter on an update on what his ‘thinking is right now with Iran?’
President Donald Trump arrives aboard Air Force One at Palm Beach International Airport (PBI) on January 31, 2026 in West Palm Beach, Florida
An F/A-18E Super Hornet attached to Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 151 launches from the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) as it conducts routine flight operations in the Arabian Sea on January 28, 2026
It comes just days after Trump issued another threat to Iran – to make a nuclear deal or face an overwhelming military onslaught.
As the US President’s ‘beautiful armada’ of warships moved into position this week, the Tehran regime said any attack would be ‘an act of war’.
Facing unprecedented domestic pressures, Trump looked to make good his promise to protect Iranians from the country’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamanei following a brutal crackdown on protests against the regime thought to have left tens of thousands dead.
Having stepped back from the brink a fortnight ago when Tehran dropped threats to hang protesters, the President vowed the United States was ready to fulfil its mission in the region ‘with speed and violence, if necessary’.
He warned that ‘time is running out’ for the mullahs to negotiate a deal on their nuclear programme, which was the subject of US attacks last year.
Iran’s mission to the UN responded by saying Tehran ‘stands ready for dialogue based on mutual respect and interests’, but it would defend itself and ‘respond like never before’ if threatened.
Igniting the rhetoric further, Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi warned that its armed forces had ‘their fingers on the trigger to immediately and powerfully respond to any aggression’.
In the early hours of Wednesday, Trump told a rally in Iowa: ‘By the way, there’s another beautiful armada floating beautifully toward Iran right now, so we’ll see.
‘I hope they make a deal. They should have made a deal the first time.’
He then followed it up with a message on his Truth Social platform: ‘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.’
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (left) pray at the grave of the late revolutionary founder Ayatollah Khomeini, commemorating the 47th anniversary of his return from exile during the 1979 Islamic Revolution, in southern Tehran, January 31, 2026
Families and residents gather at the Kahrizak Coroner’s Office confronting rows of body bags as they search for relatives killed during the regime’s violent crackdown on protests
A giant banner depicting a US aircraft carrier and the American flag displayed at Enqelab (Revolution) Square in Tehran on January 25
Last summer, after weeks of Israel and Iran exchanging missiles, Trump ordered Operation Midnight Hammer to target Tehran’s nuclear facilities.
Seven B-2 stealth bombers flew 18-hour journeys to and from the US to drop their devastating payloads on plants buried deep into a mountain at Fordo.
President Trump came close to ordering strikes against Iran earlier this month, at the height of the uprising against its regime.
But he backed off after warnings from regional partners about Iran’s anticipated response.
He had told the thousands of protesters demanding democracy ‘help is on its way’, then seemingly changed his mind, after the regime agreed not to execute 800 protesters.
Key US allies such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Egypt urged restraint and diplomacy, convincing Trump to back off.
Unnamed US security sources have indicated the White House may be eyeing a similar operation to Venezuela whereby he is able to remove Iran’s political leadership while leaving the infrastructure of government in place.
But the Supreme Leader is much better protected than the Venezuelan president. Iran has placed its military forces on high alert and has sent long-range drones over the Iranian Ocean to record the progress of the US warships.
There were also fears last night that Israel could bear the brunt of any Iranian military retaliation.
Ali Shamkhani, an adviser to Khamanei, pledged that any US action would be ‘considered the start of war’.
On X, he said: ‘The response will be immediate, all out and unprecedented,’ adding that ‘all supporters of the aggressors’ would be targeted.
‘Iran’s mission to the UN in New York taunted: ‘Last time the US blundered into wars in Afghanistan and Iraq it squandered $7trillion and lost more than 7,000 US lives.’
This is a breaking news story. More to follow.
