The United States has threatened Iran with an armada of ships much larger than what it sent to Venezuela. The Iranian ruling class responded, saying that it has its “finger on the trigger” and was ready to fend off both U.S. and Israeli aggression.

Earlier this month, Trump reportedly came close to ordering strikes on Iranian targets in response to a violent crackdown on anti-government protests that left thousands dead, according to a number of human rights groups. While he delayed that decision, military assets have continued to flow to the region, accoridng to a report by RT. 

“We have a big armada next to Iran. Bigger than Venezuela,” he said, referencing a U.S. naval buildup near the South American nation that led to the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro.

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At the same time, Trump also suggested that Tehran genuinely wants to negotiate a deal, claiming that the rulers all but begged to talk to him. “They called on numerous occasions. They want to talk.”

In response to Trump’s inflammatory warning, Iran said it’s ready to respond. General Mohammad Pakpour of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) stated that the IRGC is “more ready than ever, finger on the trigger” to defend the country and promised “painful” consequences for any aggression from the US or Israel.

The Trump administration appears divided on how to proceed. Some officials have reportedly advocated for enforcing the president’s “red line” to punish Tehran, while others have questioned what strategic goal bombing would achieve. Both have the likelihood of starting another war, however.

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Washington has been pushing for a deal that would require Iran to get rid of all of its enriched uranium, cap its missile stockpile, cease support for regional proxies, and abandon independent uranium enrichment. So far, Iran has shown no willingness to accept these terms.