Trump says US ‘armada’ heading toward Iran
President Donald Trump recently stated that a massive U.S. naval “armada,” including an aircraft carrier strike group like the USS Abraham Lincoln and guided-missile destroyers, is heading toward the Gulf region near Iran. He made these comments on January 22, 2026, aboard Air Force One while returning from the World Economic Forum in Davos, describing the deployment as precautionary amid simmering U.S.-Iran tensions.
The move follows Iran’s crackdown on anti-government protests, where Trump had previously threatened intervention if Tehran executed protesters or restarted its nuclear program. Iranian commander Mohammad Pakpour responded by warning the U.S. and Israel against miscalculation, stating Iranian forces are “fingers on the trigger” and ready to act.
Trump emphasized a preference against using the force, saying, “We have a lot of ships going that direction just in case… maybe we won’t have to use it. We’ll see.” He also claimed his prior warnings led Iran to cancel nearly 840 executions, calling it an “encouraging sign” while announcing potential 25% tariffs on nations trading with Iran.
