WILLING AND ABLE

President's war threat to rogue state, US 'armada' heads to Gulf in stand-off

- CHRISTOPHER BUCKTIN

A HUGE armada of US warships is heading towards Iran, threatening devastating military action, Donald Trump has warned.

The US president said yesterday that unless Tehran agrees to a new deal, banning nuclear weapons, all options were open to him.

In a series of stark messages on Truth Social, he said the naval force - led by the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln - was prepared to strike if negotiations failed.

He wrote: "A massive Armada is heading to Iran. It is moving quickly, with great power, enthusiasm and purpose. It is a larger fleet, headed by the great Aircraft Carrier Abraham Lincoln, than that sent to Venezuela.

"Like with Venezuela, it is ready, willing and able to rapidly fulfil its mission, with speed and violence, if necessary. Hopefully Iran will quickly 'Come to the Table' and negotiate a fair and equitable deal - NO NUCLEAR WEAPONS -one that is good for all parties.

"Time is running out, it is truly of the essence! As I told Iran once before, MAKE A DEAL!" The president warned any future US military action would eclipse Operation Midnight Hammer, the June strike in which US forces used bunker-busting bombs and missiles against three Iranian nuclear facilities.

He added: "Don't make that happen again." Trump has repeatedly threatened Iranian authorities this month, warning of consequences if security forces fired on peaceful protesters-though he has been largely ignored.