The USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier in the Strait of Hormuz, November 2019. ZACHARY PEARSON/USNAVY VIA AFP
As Iran emerges from another wave of brutally suppressed protests, Washington has intensified pressure on the regime in Tehran. On Wednesday, January 28, Donald Trump ordered Iran to reach an agreement with Washington on its nuclear program or risk facing military strikes that would be "far worse" than those carried out in June 2025.
In a message posted on social media, the US president stated that the fleet of American ships deployed in the region, led by the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier, was "ready, willing, and able to rapidly fulfill its mission, with speed and violence, if necessary." "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," Trump wrote.
In response, Iran said it was ready for dialogue based on mutual respect and shared interests, while warning against any escalation. "If pushed, [Iran] will respond like never before," warned Iran's mission to the United Nations in a message posted on X. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi added, "Our brave Armed Forces are prepared – with their fingers on the trigger – to immediately and powerfully respond to ANY aggression against our beloved land, air, and sea."
