dpa | According to US President Donald Trump, Iran is interested in a diplomatic solution to tensions with the USA. The situation with Iran is “in flux” because the US government has sent a large war fleet to the region, Trump told the US news portal “Axios” in an interview. “We have a big armada next to Iran. Bigger than (off the coast of) Venezuela,” the Republican said. But he believes that Tehran wants to conclude an agreement.
US aircraft carrier group arrived in the region
“They want to make a deal. I know that. They have called several times. They want to talk,” the US president added. A fleet of warships including the aircraft carrier “USS Abraham Lincoln” has now arrived in the region, the US military’s regional command Centcom announced. There was no further information about the exact position of the ship group.
Trump called for military intervention by his country in Iran for the killing of thousands of demonstrators in the recent mass protests in the Islamic Republic ultimately not ruled out.
The US-based human rights network HRANA, meanwhile, reported 6,126 confirmed cases Death toll in Iranincluding 5,777 protesters. In addition, HRANA says it is examining 17,091 additional suspected cases. In addition, 11,009 other people are said to have been seriously injured. According to activists, security forces have arrested 41,880 people. All information cannot currently be independently verified.
Khamenei and Trump exacerbated the conflict
In an interview with the news portal “Politico,” Trump recently spoke out in favor of a change of government in Iran: “It’s time to look for new leadership in Iran.” Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had previously blamed Trump for the protests and called him a “criminal.” America must be held accountable.
Iranian President Massoud Peseschkian said any aggression against Khamenei would be tantamount to an all-out war against the Iranian nation. The US State Department then warned Iran against attacks on US bases and announced a decisive response in this case.
Iran: Monitor enemy movements
“I would prefer that nothing happens, but we are watching them very closely,” Trump said of Iran. A reaction from Iran followed promptly. “The armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran are monitoring the movements of the enemy,” a senior military official in the central operations command told state radio. The presence of “foreign forces” in the maritime environment turns them into “easily achievable targets,” it said.
The Foreign Ministry in Tehran warned of the regional consequences of an escalation. “Insecurity is contagious and therefore there is a common concern among the countries in the region,” said Foreign Ministry spokesman Ismail Baghai. “We will respond stronger than ever to any form of aggression against Iran with a comprehensive and painful response.”
Report: Trump’s decision still open
According to information from Axios, Trump has not yet made a decision on how to proceed. He is likely to hold further consultations this week and be presented with additional military options by his security advisers, the news portal quoted sources familiar with the situation as saying.
With the aircraft carrier “USS Abraham Lincoln” and the warships accompanying it, Trump will receive additional offensive and defensive options in the event he decides to attack Iran, the Wall Street Journal reported. Three destroyers accompanying the aircraft carrier could fire Tomahawk cruise missiles, the newspaper quoted a defense official as saying. The US also has additional F-35C and F-18 fighter aircraft as well as EA-18 Growler aircraft for electronic warfare, it said.
The USA has also stationed two more destroyers near the Strait of Hormuz. Three combat ships are also operating in the Persian Gulf, the defense official said. The US also has F-15E fighter jets at a base in Jordan and is moving air defense systems to the region to protect US facilities and partners from possible Iranian counterattacks, the US newspaper reported, citing flight tracking data and statements from two US officials.