U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday revealed that the United States has dispatched a substantial naval presence toward Iran, describing it as an "armada," but expressed hope that it would not need to be used.
Reuters cited on Friday that the warning comes amid heightened tensions over Tehran’s treatment of protesters and its nuclear ambitions.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One following the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Trump said, "We have a lot of ships going that direction, just in case …I'd rather not see anything happen, but we're watching them very closely."
He added, "We have an armada ... heading in that direction, and maybe we won't have to use it."
US officials, speaking anonymously, confirmed that the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and several guided-missile destroyers are en route to the Middle East and will arrive in the coming days. Additional air-defence systems are also being considered to protect US forces in the region from potential Iranian strikes.
The deployment enhances the options available to the United States, allowing for both defensive measures and potential follow-up action after June strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.
Trump reiterated that the US would respond if Iran resumed its nuclear programme, warning, "If they try to do it again, they have to go to another area. We'll hit them there too, just as easily."
Trump also claimed credit for halting executions of prisoners in Iran, saying that nearly 840 hangings were canceled following his threats.
"I said: 'If you hang those people, you're going to be hit harder than you've ever been hit. It'll make what we did to your Iran nuclear programme look like peanuts,'" he said. "At an hour before this horrible thing was going to take place, they canceled it. It's a good sign."
The US military has periodically increased its presence in the Middle East during periods of tension, though the previous major buildup last year preceded the June strikes on key Iranian nuclear sites.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) continues to seek verification of Iran’s nuclear material, including roughly 440.9 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60 percent purity, sufficient in theory for up to 10 nuclear bombs.
The agency has not independently confirmed Iran’s stock of highly enriched uranium for seven months, despite advising monthly verification.
Protests in Iran, sparked on December 28 by economic grievances, have spread nationwide. US-based rights group HRANA has verified 4,519 deaths linked to unrest, while Iranian authorities report over 5,000 fatalities, including 500 security personnel.
When asked about the death toll, Trump said, "Nobody knows... I mean, it's a lot, no matter what."
The US naval deployment underscores Washington’s dual strategy of deterrence and readiness as tensions with Iran remain volatile. - January 23, 2026
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