President Donald Trump issued a warning to the Iranian regime, reminding the leaders of past U.S. strikes on Iran and threatening the “next attack will be far worse” if the regime refuses negotiations over its nuclear program.
Trump reiterated his desire to strike a deal with Iran in a Truth Social post Wednesday, calling on the regime to ‘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,” Trump said. “As I told Iran once before, MAKE A DEAL! They didn’t, and there was ‘Operation Midnight Hammer,’ a major destruction of Iran. The next attack will be far worse! Don’t make that happen again.”
The U.S. struck Natanz, Fordow, and Isfahan, Iran’s three key nuclear facilities, last June during Operation Midnight Hammer, significantly damaging Iran’s nuclear program.
Trump’s warning comes two days after the president told Axios in an exclusive interview that while the situation in Iran is “in flux,” he believes the regime does want to make a deal.
Trump was close to ordering a strike on Iran earlier in January, Axios reports, but chose to wait until more U.S. military assets arrived in the region, which they now have.
The USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier is heading the “massive Armada,” according to the president, who added that the fleet is larger “than that sent to Venezuela.”
Trump moved a large U.S. military naval presence towards Venezuela before capturing dictator Nicolás Maduro and bringing him to New York to stand trial.
“Like with Venezuela, it is, ready, willing, and able to rapidly fulfill its mission, with speed and violence, if necessary,” Trump said of the fleet.
Iranians began protesting in the streets against the regime at the end of December. The protests are driven by dissatisfaction over Iran’s government, led by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and frustration over the nation’s struggling economy.
Trump has previously threatened to act against Iran if the regime killed civilian protesters. Estimates on the number of protesters killed range anywhere from 6,000 to more than 30,000.
An accurate death toll has not been confirmed due to limited information coming out of Iran during regime-imposed internet blackouts.
On Jan. 13, Trump encouraged Iranians to “keep protesting,” telling them, “help is on its way.”