Washington/Tehran, Feb 14 : US President Donald Trump announced on Friday that a “very big carrier group” has been deployed toward Iran as tensions continue, even as Tehran indicated that indirect nuclear talks could progress if Washington avoids “excessive demands.”
Speaking during a press interaction in Washington and later at Fort Bragg, Trump criticised decades of negotiations with Iran, emphasizing his aim to resolve the matter “for once and for all.” He described the ongoing naval deployment as part of broader efforts to project power and press for a final resolution.
“For 47 years, they’ve been talking and talking and talking. In the meantime, we’ve lost a lot of lives while they talk. Let’s see what happens. Get it settled for once and for all, and that’ll be good,” Trump said. He added that additional carriers are being sent and reiterated his broader foreign policy achievements, including efforts to bring peace to conflict zones worldwide.
In Tehran, Ali Shamkhani, secretary of Iran’s Defence Council, told Al Jazeera that negotiations with Washington could advance if grounded in realism and mutual respect, avoiding excessive demands. Shamkhani stressed that Iran’s missile program remains non-negotiable and warned of a “strong, decisive and appropriate” response to any adventurism.
The remarks follow renewed indirect nuclear negotiations between Iran and the United States, the first round of which was held in Oman on February 6. Iranian officials reiterated that while Tehran is open to verification of its nuclear programme, it will not yield to excessive demands.
Shamkhani also highlighted that Israel cannot act against Iran without US support, asserting that Iran’s military readiness remains high. The statements reflect ongoing tensions in West Asia amid diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the region and strengthen political solutions.
The deployment of the US carrier group underscores Washington’s dual approach of demonstrating military strength while keeping diplomatic channels open for negotiation with Tehran.