Donald Trump has issued a veiled threat of military action against Iran while keeping the details of his plans strictly confidential. Speaking to reporters on Saturday, Trump refused to confirm whether he had made a final decision about how to handle Tehran. “I certainly can’t tell you that,” the president said, though he did reveal that the United States has sent “really big powerful ships heading in that direction,” suggesting that military preparations are well advanced regardless of final authorization.
At the core of the crisis is Iran’s nuclear programme, which Western intelligence agencies believe is designed to develop nuclear weapons despite Tehran’s denials. Trump indicated that Washington still hopes to resolve the standoff through diplomacy, expressing a preference for negotiations over military action. “I hope to negotiate something that’s acceptable,” the president stated, outlining his vision of “a negotiated deal that would be satisfactory with no nuclear weapons.”
The president’s current emphasis on nuclear diplomacy marks a shift from his recent statements about Iran’s domestic situation. Trump had threatened military consequences if Iranian forces killed anti-government protesters during demonstrations that erupted in late December. Those protests reached their peak on January 8 and 9, and Iranian authorities have since acknowledged more than 3,000 deaths. However, Tehran claims the majority of casualties were security personnel or bystanders killed by what they characterize as violent rioters.
Trump also weighed in on reported comments from Saudi Arabia’s Defence Minister about the consequences of US military hesitation. The Saudi official allegedly suggested that backing away from strikes would embolden Iran, but Trump offered a nuanced response. “Some people think that and some people don’t,” he said, demonstrating his awareness of differing strategic assessments within his administration and among regional allies.
Meanwhile, Iran has launched its own messaging campaign in response to American threats. The streets of Tehran have been lined with billboards and banners designed to rally public support and project strength. Among the most provocative displays is a massive poster showing an American aircraft carrier being destroyed, a graphic warning about the potential costs of military conflict. Despite this hostile posturing, Trump revealed that diplomatic communications are ongoing. “They’re talking to us, seriously talking to us,” he said of Iranian officials, while expressing uncertainty about whether these discussions will ultimately succeed. The president’s skepticism about Iran’s commitment to abandoning its nuclear ambitions means that military action remains a very real possibility.