US, Jan 29 : President Donald Trump on Wednesday warned Iran that it could face an attack “far worse” than previous US strikes if it does not agree to curb its nuclear programme. The warning came as a large US naval force, led by the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier, moved toward the region.
In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump said the fleet was larger than the one previously deployed to Venezuela and was “ready, willing, and able to rapidly fulfill its mission, with speed and violence, if necessary.” He urged Tehran to “Come to the Table” and negotiate a deal ensuring “NO NUCLEAR WEAPONS,” cautioning that time was running out.
Trump referenced past strikes in June, when US forces targeted Iranian nuclear sites in “Operation Midnight Hammer,” and warned that any future attack would be significantly more severe. He emphasized that the United States would maintain a “preemptive defensive option” if Iran showed signs of planning attacks on US personnel in the region, noting Tehran’s growing ballistic missile arsenal.
Iran issues counter-warning
Iran responded with strong rhetoric. Ali Shamkhani, senior adviser to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, warned that any US strike would be considered the start of a war, promising an “immediate, comprehensive and unprecedented” response directed “to the heart of Tel Aviv and all of its supporters.” Shamkhani called the notion of a “limited strike” an illusion and reiterated similar threats issued in December.
Military positioning and diplomacy
The USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group, accompanied by three destroyers, has entered the US Central Command area of responsibility, which covers the Middle East and waters around Iran. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio highlighted that approximately 30,000 US troops in the region remain within range of Iranian drones and short-range missiles.
Despite rising tensions, Gulf states and Turkey continue to engage both Washington and Tehran to reduce the risk of escalation. Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, emphasized that negotiations must address Iran’s missiles, uranium enrichment, non-state proxy groups, and nuclear stockpiles. Tehran, however, has reiterated it will not negotiate under pressure or with preconditions.
Analysts note that Trump is seeking to limit Iran’s nuclear and long-range missile capabilities, both central to the country’s military strategy. While Trump has suggested that Iran’s supreme leader should step down, Tehran has rejected the notion, and US lawmakers have warned that regime-change scenarios would require “careful thinking.”