As US builds up forces in region, Trump warns Iran: ‘Next attack will be far worse’ than Midnight Hammer, calls regime to negotiate as ‘time is running out’

U.S. President Donald Trump reiterated his threats against the Iranian regime on Wednesday, calling it to “make a deal” before it is too late in a post on Truth Social.

“A massive Armada is heading to Iran. It is moving quickly, with great power, enthusiasm, and purpose. It is a larger fleet, headed by the great Aircraft Carrier Abraham Lincoln, than that sent to Venezuela,” he said.

In the weeks leading up to the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro three weeks ago, the U.S. had concentrated massive naval and aerial forces near the country, implementing a naval blockade.

“…Hopefully Iran will 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! As I told Iran once before, MAKE A DEAL…” - President DONALD J. TRUMP pic.twitter.com/H6qLbw3Ndi

— The White House (@WhiteHouse) January 28, 2026

Trump noted that the U.S. armada is “ready, willing, and able to rapidly fulfill its mission, with speed and violence, if necessary. Hopefully Iran will quickly ‘Come to the Table’ and negotiate a fair and equitable deal – NO NUCLEAR WEAPONS – one that is good for all parties.”

“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,” Trump pleaded.

In recent days, several Israeli media reports suggested that Jerusalem is concerned about the possibility of the regime striking a deal with Washington.

According to the Jerusalem Post, Trump’s message via Truth Social was only a repetition of warnings he sent directly to the regime, urging it to sign an agreement while noting that a naval armada was on the way.

However, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stressed that there was no direct communication with US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff in recent days.

In addition, U.S. officials told the news outlet Axios that there are no serious negotiations, while countries including Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Qatar have been trying to talk to both sides and are passing messages between them.

Meanwhile, Iranian officials responded to Trump’s latest message with more threats and bluster.

Ali Shamkhani, a senior adviser to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, wrote on 𝕏 that “A limited [U.S.] strike is an illusion. Any military action, from America, from any origin and at any level, will be considered the start of war, and its response will be the immediate, all-out, and unprecedented targeting of the heart of Tel Aviv and all supporters of the aggressor.”

The regime’s mission to the UN wrote that “Last time the U.S. blundered into wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, it squandered over $7 trillion and lost more than 7,000 American lives. Iran stands ready for dialogue based on mutual respect and interests – BUT IF PUSHED, IT WILL DEFEND ITSELF AND RESPOND LIKE NEVER BEFORE!”

Jason Brodsky, policy director at the United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) think tank, wrote on 𝕏 that “We're seeing a pattern of tactics in the Iran theater that is very similar to what he used in Venezuela and before the 12-Day War. Alternating between conciliation and confrontation. It's a form of coercive diplomacy.”

Warning that regime officials would now seize on the U.S. demand, claiming that Iran never wanted nuclear weapons, Brodsky added that Trump wants a deal that demands more than a renunciation of the nuclear weapons program.

“He has a far broader deal in mind and uses ‘no nuclear weapons’ as shorthand for that broader deal – zero enrichment, limits on missiles, ending support for terror proxies – that his special envoy has spoken of,” said Brodsky.

The U.S. military has continued to build up its forces in the region, announcing the start of a broad exercise of the CENTCOM Air Force on Tuesday.

However, Saudi Arabia joined the UAE in ruling out the use of its territory for a potential U.S. strike on Iran, fearing potential retaliation.

In a Tuesday readout from a call by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, the kingdom said MBS had stressed it would “not allow its airspace or territory to be used for any military actions against Iran.”