Washington, DC – US President Donald Trump said in an interview with Axios on Monday that Iran is seeking a deal with the United States, despite the deployment of a “massive force” toward the country. Trump explained that the US has “a large fleet right next to Iran.” He noted Tehran’s eagerness to negotiate: “They want to make a deal. I know that. They’ve called us many times.” Similarly, a senior US official confirmed to reporters in a phone call that Washington is ready to make a deal, provided Iran is willing to engage. According to a report by correspondent Barak Ravid, Trump added that the military force currently deployed around Iran is “much larger” than the one around Venezuela. However, he believes Tehran is seeking negotiations and an agreement.
The report was released as the aircraft carrier group USS Abraham Lincoln arrived in the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) area of operations in the Middle East, which includes Iran. This move reflects Washington’s preparedness for any potential military contingency. The Trump administration had announced it was working to establish direct dialogue with Tehran before the recent January protests in Iran. Last week, U.S. Special Envoy for the Middle East, Steve Whitaker, stated at the Davos World Economic Forum in Switzerland that he had expected to meet with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi on the sidelines of the forum. However, the invitation to Araqchi was withdrawn following the bloody crackdown on the protests in his country.
