‘Powerful Ships Headed In That Direction’: Trump Hopes Iran Will Negotiate ‘Something Acceptable’

Last Updated:February 01, 2026, 20:51 IST

Trump’s remarks come amid a US naval build-up near Iran, signs of tentative movement towards talks, and lingering tensions after Tehran’s crackdown on protests.

Trump points to US warships near Iran while urging Tehran to strike a deal he says would avoid nuclear weapons. (IMAGE: REUTERS)

US President Donald Trump on Saturday appeared to remind Tehran of the US naval presence off Iran’s shores, urging the regime to “negotiate something that’s acceptable".

Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One while en route to Florida, Trump said Washington had deployed “very big, powerful ships" to the region. “We do have very big, powerful ships heading in that direction, as you know. But I hope they negotiate something that’s acceptable," he said, adding that a negotiated deal without nuclear weapons was possible.

The remarks followed the deployment of US warships led by the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier near Iran, after Trump warned of possible intervention following Tehran’s deadly crackdown on anti-government protests.

Iran, meanwhile, signalled potential movement towards talks. Ali Larijani, head of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, said on Saturday that progress was being made on setting up negotiations with the United States. “Contrary to the hype of the contrived media war, structural arrangements for negotiations are progressing," Larijani said.

Iran’s leadership, however, warned on Sunday that any US attack could trigger a wider regional conflict. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said the Iranian people would not be intimidated by US military deployments. “The Iranian nation shall not be scared by these things, the Iranian people will not be stirred by these threats," he was quoted as saying on state media.

“We are not the initiators and do not want to attack any country, but the Iranian nation will strike a strong blow against anyone who attacks and harasses them," Khamenei said.

The US Navy currently has six destroyers, one aircraft carrier and three littoral combat ships deployed in the region.

The unrest in Iran began over economic hardship before evolving into the most serious political challenge to the Islamic Republic since its establishment in 1979. While protests have largely subsided following a security crackdown, the toll remains contested. Official figures put the death toll at 3,117, while the US-based rights group HRANA said on Sunday it had verified at least 6,713 deaths.

(with inputs from Reuters)

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