Trump warns of “severe consequences” if Iran talks fail, says US fleet moving to region

2026-02-03 - 05:46

WASHINGTON – US President Donald Trump on Tuesday adopted a tough stance on Iran, warning that the US naval fleet is moving toward the region and that the situation could “turn very bad” if ongoing negotiations fail. Speaking to the media, Trump said talks with Tehran are underway and stressed the need to reach an agreement, cautioning that the failure of diplomacy could lead to serious consequences. He announced that Steve Witkoff is scheduled to meet Iran’s foreign minister on Friday, describing the meeting as a potentially important step in advancing the negotiations. The US president also said Washington has decided to establish a strategic stockpile of critical minerals to support domestic industries, adding that American banks will invest $12 billion as part of the initiative. On domestic security, Trump claimed that US borders have been secured and that illegal entry into the country has been effectively halted. Addressing global affairs, he said the United States is actively working to help end the war between Ukraine and Russia and expressed optimism about “good news” on the matter. According to Trump, the Ukraine-Russia conflict is resulting in approximately 25,000 deaths each month. He described the level of hostility between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as “shameful.” He further stated that the United States has helped bring an end to eight wars worldwide and currently enjoys strong relations with Europe. Referring to Venezuela, Trump claimed the country’s leadership altered its approach following US actions. Reiterating his hardline position on Iran, the president said a deal is now unavoidable and warned of severe consequences if an agreement is not reached. Trump also denied any connection to the Jeffrey Epstein scandal.