WASHINGTON – US President Donald Trump said Thursday that the United States has a “massive” naval force heading toward Iran, while suggesting it may not be used as tensions remain high amid Iran’s unrest.
“We have a lot of ships going that direction just in case. We have a big flotilla going in that direction. And we’ll see what happens,” Trump told reporters on as he returned from the in Davos, Switzerland.
“We have an armada. We have a massive fleet heading in that direction, and maybe we won’t have to use it. We’ll see,” Trump added.
The , along with three destroyers, was spotted making its way to the Middle East from Asia, according to Tuesday’s ship-tracking data.
The USS George H W Bush has left Virginia and is at sea in the Atlantic, bound for Europe, said a New York Post report.
Trump reiterated that he prefers to avoid conflict, saying, “I’d rather not see anything happen, but we’re watching them very closely.”
The president said a planned 25-percent tariff on countries doing business with Iran would take effect “very soon.”
Despite his tough rhetoric, including a recent call for regime change in Iran, Trump has said he remains open to negotiations.
“Iran does want to talk, and we’ll talk,” Trump said during his stay in Davos.