Trump: We have a huge armada next to Iran, bigger than Venezuela. But Tehran wants to talk

President of the United States Donald Trump said that the situation with Iran is changing, as it has sent a "large armada," but the politician believes that Tehran really wants to make a deal. The American leader said this in an interview with Axios media.

"We have a big armada next to Iran. Bigger than Venezuela" Trump said about his decision to send the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group to the region.

According to data from Axios, earlier in January, the US president was close to ordering a strike on Iranian regime targets over Tehran's killing of thousands of protesters. Instead, Trump postponed the decision while moving military forces to the region. White House officials claim that the option of an attack is still on the table, although protests have been largely suppressed.

In a new interview, the American leader refused to discuss the options presented by his national security team or his preferred option.

However, the US president noted that diplomacy remains possible: "They want to make a deal. I know so. They called on numerous occasions. They want to talk".

U.S. officials say that any deal should include the removal of all enriched uranium from the Islamic Republic and a ban on independent enrichment in the country, limiting Iran's stockpile of long-range missiles, and changing Tehran's policy of supporting proxies in the region.

Instead, the Iranian side stated that it was ready for negotiations, but did not express any willingness to accept such conditions.

Axios' sources with knowledge of the situation say Trump has not yet made a final decision. He is likely to hold more consultations this week and receive additional military options.

In addition to the carrier group, the United States has sent more F-15 and F-35 fighters and refueling aircraft to the region, as well as additional air defense systems.

According to media interlocutors, on January 24, admiral Brad Cooper, the head of the US Central Command (in particular, it operates in the Middle East), visited Israel to coordinate military plans and potential joint defense measures to counter Iran's attack on the country.

• The last time the United States struck the Islamic Republic was in June 2025 – the nuclear capacities were under attack, which, according to Washington, were part of a nuclear weapons program. At the same time, there was the 12-day war between Israel and Iran.
• On January 24, interlocutors of the opposition media outlet Iran International said that the head of the regime, Khamenei, had moved to an underground bunker due to fear of a strike from the United States.