President Donald Trump announced a possible military action against Iran in an early morning social media post.
The USS Abraham Lincoln and three other warships arrived Tuesday in the Middle East as the 79-year-old president considers airstrikes over Iran's crackdown on protesters, which may have resulted in the deaths of nearly 6,000 people and detentions of nearly 42,000 more.
"A massive Armada is heading to Iran," Trump posted Wednesday morning on Truth Social. "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."
The deployment is intended to pressure Iran to negotiate an end to its nuclear program, Trump said, which U.S. forces targeted in June.
"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," he posted. "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. Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DONALD J. TRUMP."