Trump warns of a “massive Armada” heading to Iran; analysts say Iran is riskier than Venezuela

President Trump warned on Truth Social that “A massive Armada is heading to Iran,” comparing the threat to the pressure campaign the United States used against Venezuela, The New York Times reports. The article says Mr. Trump has effectively given Iran an ultimatum, demanding that it end its nuclear program, stop producing missiles that can reach Israel and cease support for armed proxies — conditions the piece calls a long shot.

Last week he detailed what would happen if Iran did not comply, writing that the armada is “ready, willing, and able, to rapidly fulfill its mission, with speed and violence, if necessary.” Reporters and analysts cited in the Times say Iran is a far more dangerous adversary than Venezuela because of its capacity to strike Israeli cities and destabilize the wider Middle East.

The piece notes Tehran looks militarily weak in some respects — allies weakened, production lines damaged and stockpiles buried — but that weakness has hardened Iranian leaders. “This time it’s about survival,” Erika Solomon told the paper, saying Iranian authorities have signaled they would make an attack into an all-out regional war if struck.

The Times reports that Shiite militias in Iraq have pledged to come to Iran’s aid and the Houthis in Yemen could join. Iran’s long-range ballistic missiles, the article says, can reach roughly 2,000 kilometers and expose the entire Middle East; Iranian officials have warned they would strike Israel and U.S.

trump truth social, armada heading to iran, iran ultimatum, iran nuclear program, iran ballistic missiles, houthis yemen attacks, shiite militias iraq, israel missile defenses, trump venezuela comparison, ayatollah ali khamenei, military action against iran, strait of hormuz