US President Donald Trump announced that a “massive naval fleet” is en route to Iran, emphasizing that he is monitoring the situation in Tehran “very closely.”
In remarks made upon his return from the Davos Forum in Switzerland, Trump revealed the deployment of the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and guided-missile destroyers, expanding the available military options, both for defending US bases and for responding to any action from Iran.
He reiterated his warnings to Tehran against continuing to suppress protesters or reactivating its nuclear program, Reuters reported.
Trump claimed that his threats prompted Iranian authorities to halt the execution of approximately 840 protesters.
The White House confirmed that “all options remain on the table,” while reports revealed that Washington is considering deploying additional air defense systems to protect its forces in the region.
Iran responds
Iranian authorities denied Trump’s claims regarding a decision to halt executions.
Iranian Attorney General Mohammad Movahed emphasized that the Iranian judiciary operates according to domestic laws and is not subject to foreign interference.
The Revolutionary Guard’s intelligence service meanwhile issued a statement revealing that they had thwarted an “American-Zionist” plot involving 10 hostile intelligence agencies aiming to ‘incite unrest’.
The statement explained that the scheme failed thanks to the high level of preparedness of the security and police institutions and the vigilance of the Iranian people.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had “shamelessly” called for illegal US aggression against Iran, in violation of the UN Charter itself.
He emphasized that, unlike the Ukrainian army, which is dependent on foreign powers and filled with mercenaries, Iran knows very well how to defend itself, adding that his country has absolutely no need to beg foreigners for help.
