WASHINGTON, United States — President Donald Trump said a US “armada” was heading toward the Gulf and that Washington was watching Iran closely, even after downplaying the prospect of imminent military action and saying Tehran appeared interested in talks.

Iran says it is ready to hold discussions with the US after President Donald Trump said Tehran had called his administration to negotiate. Follow for live updates

US President Trump's claim that Tehran called up Washington seeking negotiations comes just a few hours after Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei posted a cartoon on X.

Foreign minister says he hopes Washington will choose ‘wise option’ of dialogue after Trump threatens US intervention.

Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One while returning from the WEF in Davos, Trump said the US was sending a “massive fleet”

U.S. President Donald Trump said Sunday that Iran proposed negotiations after his threat to strike the Islamic Republic over its bloody crackdown targeting demonstrators there, a move coming as activists said the death toll in protests rose to at least 544.

Top Trump administration officials met Tuesday to further refine a set of options for the president to take action against Iran amid its deadly crackdown on protesters.

Activists said the number of people killed has risen to at least 599, as the Islamic Republic continued its bloody crackdown on demonstrators. | ITV National News