Mr. Trump warned that ‘time is running out’ with Iran

“Hopefully Iran will quickly sit at the negotiating table to negotiate a fair and satisfactory agreement, without nuclear weapons, and beneficial to all parties. Time is running out,” US President Donald Trump wrote on social networks today.

He announced that a “huge fleet” led by the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln is heading to Iran, emphasizing that this fleet is larger than the US force deployed near Venezuela. The US President noted that he ordered a raid on Iran’s nuclear facilities in June 2025 after Tehran rejected the agreement, leaving the country “severely devastated”.

“The next attack will be even worse. Don’t let that happen again,” the US leader warned.

Commenting on Mr. Trump’s post, Iran’s mission to the United Nations affirmed that the country is ready for dialogue based on mutual respect and common interests, but will also “defend itself and respond in an unprecedented way if forced.”

The warning was issued by President Trump after Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi declared that “conducting diplomatic efforts through military threats is never effective or useful”. “If they want negotiations to take shape, they must abandon threats and excessive demands and stop raising unreasonable issues,” he said.

Iran’s foreign minister affirmed that he had not contacted Steve Witkoff, US special envoy for the Middle East, in recent days and emphasized that Tehran “is not seeking to negotiate”.

Tensions between Washington and Tehran have recently escalated due to the wave of anti-government protests that broke out in late December 2025 in Iran, due to traders’ dissatisfaction with the economic situation and the devaluation of the rial currency. The protests were initially peaceful before escalating into deadly violence.

President Trump has repeatedly mentioned the possibility of supporting protesters, not excluding the scenario of ordering air strikes on Iran. However, Washington’s allies warned Mr. Trump of lasting consequences if he carried out an attack, causing the US leader to stop deciding on military action at the last minute. Iran later declared the protests had ended, with more than 3,000 people killed.

However, the US continues to deploy weapons close to Iran. Central Command (CENTCOM), the agency in charge of US military operations in the Middle East, announced on January 26 that the Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier strike group had begun its mission in the region.

Iran is contacting US allies in the Middle East, supposedly to solicit support from these countries. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman affirmed on January 27 that he will not allow the country’s airspace or territory “to be used for any military action against Iran”.