US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that he plans to speak with Iran, even as Washington steps up its military presence in the Middle East and senior Pentagon officials signal readiness to act on any decision the president makes.
Speaking to reporters, Trump offered few details on the proposed outreach, declining to say when talks might take place, what issues would be discussed, or who would represent the United States. When asked directly whether he intended to engage Tehran diplomatically, Trump replied, “I am planning on it, yeah.”
At the same time, the president underscored the growing U.S. military posture in the region, confirming that another American warship has been dispatched toward the Middle East. “We have a lot of very big, very powerful ships sailing to Iran right now,” Trump said. “And it would be great if we didn’t have to use them.”
U.S. officials say Trump is currently reviewing a range of options but has not made a final decision on whether to authorize military strikes against Iran. Tensions between Washington and Tehran have escalated sharply in recent weeks following a violent crackdown by Iran’s clerical authorities on widespread protests triggered by economic hardship and political repression.
Trump has repeatedly warned that the United States could intervene if Iranian security forces continued killing protesters. However, the demonstrations, which spread across multiple cities, have largely subsided in recent days, easing immediate pressure for action.
The president has also drawn a firm line on Iran’s nuclear ambitions, saying the United States would respond decisively if Tehran resumed its nuclear program. His comments come after Israeli and U.S. air strikes in June targeted key Iranian nuclear installations, significantly raising the stakes in the long-running standoff over Iran’s nuclear activities.
With a substantial U.S. military force now positioned in the region, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was asked earlier in the day to address the situation during a cabinet meeting. Trump directly invited him to comment on Washington’s readiness.
“They should not pursue nuclear capabilities,” Hegseth said. “We will be prepared to deliver whatever this president expects of the War Department,” using the Trump administration’s unofficial term for the Defense Department.
The combination of tentative diplomatic signals and heightened military readiness reflects the administration’s dual-track approach, as Washington seeks to pressure Tehran while leaving the door open to talks aimed at avoiding a broader conflict.
