Photo: Alamy
After weeks of protests being met with violence from the Islamic Republic of Iran, President Donald Trump announced that “A massive Armada is heading to Iran.”
President Trump’s Wednesday morning Truth Social post declared that it is a larger fleet than what was sent to Venezuela, where the U.S. recently captured dictatorial President Nicolás Maduro. He warned Iranian leaders that the fleet is being led by the Abraham Lincoln Aircraft Carrier and it 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,” President Trump added, stressing the importance of refraining from the use of nuclear weapons. He urged Iranian leaders to quickly make a deal, and reminded them of Operation Midnight Hammer, a series of airstrikes that the U.S. carried out against Iran last year to handicap the nation’s nuclear capabilities.
Tehran Erupts
— ME24 – Middle East 24 (@MiddleEast_24) January 28, 2026
Millions flood Tehran’s Lounak district, chanting for the downfall of Iran’s Nazi-like regime.
The streets are boiling. The message is clear: the regime must fall. pic.twitter.com/BfQCM170LR
Iranian protesters have been flooding city streets since Dec. 28 in protest of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. They have experienced an inflation crisis, a water crisis, and human rights violations that have left people on the brink, according to RSBN.
President Trump has repeatedly warned Iranian officials not to harm protesters, but the death toll allegedly peaked this month after two days of serious government retaliation. According to Iran International, 36,500 protesters were reportedly killed on Jan.8 and Jan. 9 alone. Earlier reports counted much lower death toll estimates.
🔴 Tehran tonight
— 𝐍𝐢𝐨𝐡 𝐁𝐞𝐫𝐠 ✡︎ 🇮🇷 (@NiohBerg) January 25, 2026
An Iranian man holde up a poster that says.
“President Trump, the people of Iran are trying to save the world from a terrorist regime with their bare hands.
Please help.”
https://t.co/5FuzBS83PD
President Trump canceled scheduled strikes on Iran last week after Iranian leadership canceled the public execution of 800 protesters, per RSBN, but the protesters continue to plead for help; they have carried posters begging the 47th American President for aid and even gone so far as to rename roads President Trump Street, via RSBN.
After weeks of giving the Iranian government time to work through this period of unrest, President Trump is now taking action.