Washington, Jan 31 (.) US President Donald Trump on Friday signaled that Iran is open tr into negotiations to avoid potential American military action, even as Tehran insisted that talks cannot proceed under pressure.
Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump said, “They do want to make a deal.” He revealed that a deadline has been set for Iran to begin discussions, though he did not specify the exact timeframe. “Hopefully, we’ll make a deal. If we don’t make a deal, we’ll see what happens,” he added, referencing the deployment of a US naval carrier group near Iran.
While Washington expressed readiness for dialogue, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi reiterated Tehran’s position. He said Iran is willing to negotiate on equal footing, based on mutual interests and respect, but firmly stressed that Iran’s defensive and missile capabilities will never be negotiable. Currently, no meetings are planned between Iranian and US officials to restart talks.
“I want to state firmly that Iran’s defensive and missile capabilities will never be subject to negotiation,” Araghchi said.
The statements come amid repeated warnings from Trump about potential military action if Iran does not meet American demands, including limitations on its nuclear program and missile development. Iran has warned of retaliation to any US strike, while Turkey has offered to mediate between the two nations.
Trump has recently been briefed on a broader and more aggressive set of military options targeting Iran. These plans aim to inflict significant damage on Iran’s nuclear and missile infrastructure or undermine the authority of the supreme leader, marking a significant escalation from earlier considerations.
Officials noted that the new options exceed those reviewed two weeks ago, when the focus was on enforcing Trump’s commitment to halt violence against Iranian protesters. The proposals include scenarios that could place American forces directly on Iranian soil, including targeted raids on key facilities.
Earlier, US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth delivered a stern warning to Iran, highlighting American military readiness and deterrence. Hegseth emphasised that Iran should not pursue nuclear weapons, stating, “They should not pursue nuclear capabilities, and we will be prepared to deliver whatever this president expects of the War Department.”
Hegseth also cited the capture of former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife as an example of US military prowess, describing it as “unparalleled in scale and execution”. He stressed that such actions signal US resolve globally.
On Truth Social, Trump reiterated the US stance, noting that a “massive armada” led by the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln is moving toward Iran. He urged Tehran to return to negotiations, calling for a deal barring nuclear weapons development:
“Hopefully Iran will quickly ‘Come to the Table’ and negotiate a fair and equitable deal – NO NUCLEAR WEAPONS. Time is running out.”
He warned that if Iran does not comply, any future strikes will be far worse than prior actions. Trump also referenced a June 2025 campaign, in which US forces, in coordination with Israel, struck multiple Iranian nuclear facilities, setting back Tehran’s nuclear capabilities.
Protests in Iran have largely fizzled, but the Trump administration, once considering military action over Tehran’s violent crackdown, has now made “no nuclear weapons” its foremost demand. Meanwhile, President Trump is reportedly weighing a major strike as nuclear negotiations show no progress.
The president previously pulled back from military action due to a lack of US assets in the Middle East. That constraint has now been addressed between January 22 and January 29, the US military repositioned aircraft and naval forces across the region, creating what Trump has called a “Massive Armada” capable of striking Iran if ordered.
The USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier and three guided-missile destroyers are now in the Arabian Sea, according to US Central Command. The strike group left the South China Sea last week, joining three other US Navy destroyers in the region, including two near the Strait of Hormuz and another in the Red Sea.
Three smaller littoral combat ships are also operating in the Persian Gulf. The arrival of the carrier strike group added roughly 5,700 personnel to the region. The US maintains several bases across the Middle East, including Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, which serves as the forward headquarters for US Central Command.
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