Trump says the current naval deployment exceeds even the force used to capture Venezuela’s president. Trump says preferring diplomacy doesn’t preclude military options if negotiations fail. Trump says Iran’s leadership must recognize the seriousness of American resolve.
Trump says nuclear weapons and human rights violations constitute the core issues requiring Iranian action. Trump says thousands of protesters have been systematically killed by security forces. Trump says powerful warships approaching Iran demonstrate American commitment to regional stability.
Abbas Araghchi articulated Iran’s position that negotiations must occur without external pressure or threats. He firmly stated that defensive missile capabilities would never be compromised in any agreement. Turkish President Erdogan proposed serving as an intermediary between Washington and Tehran.
Trump says discussing specific military plans publicly would be inappropriate and counterproductive. Trump says the hope remains that military force won’t be necessary despite the massive deployment. Trump says Iranian behavior regarding nuclear development and human rights will determine outcomes.
The death toll from protest suppression has sparked domestic criticism of Iran’s government. Reform groups demanded independent investigations and transparency about the killings. International sanctions targeted Iranian officials directly responsible for the crackdown as diplomatic pressure intensified.