US says ready to cooperate with Iran as aircraft carrier deploys to Middle East

A US official confirmed that the United States is "ready to cooperate" if Iran wishes to engage with it. This comes after Washington announced that the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and its accompanying ships are "currently deployed to the Middle East to enhance security and stability."

This comes as the United States seeks to pressure Tehran over a crackdown on protesters that is estimated to have left thousands dead during the protests that began in late December, initially sparked by economic hardship, before evolving into a political movement against the authorities.

US Naval Fleet

When asked by reporters about the conditions Iran must meet to hold talks, the official said, "I think they know the conditions... They are aware of the conditions." US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that the United States has a "naval fleet" heading toward Iran, but he hopes it will not have to be used. He reiterated his warnings to Tehran against killing protesters or resuming its nuclear program.

Trump had repeatedly threatened intervention if Iran continued killing protesters, but since then, the nationwide demonstrations have subsided.

The US president said he had been informed that the killings had decreased and that he believed Tehran did not currently intend to execute prisoners.

6,000 Dead

A US-based human rights organization said on Monday that it had verified the deaths of nearly 6,000 people during the crackdown on protests in Iran, warning that the toll could be higher.

Human rights groups accused the authorities of launching a campaign of violence and firing directly at protesters amid an unprecedented internet blackout that has lasted for 18 days. Two US officials said on Monday that a US aircraft carrier and supporting warships had arrived in the Middle East, bolstering Trump's ability to defend US forces or potentially launch military action against Iran.

The US military has deployed forces to the region in the past during periods of heightened tension, moves that were largely defensive in nature. But the US military significantly increased its forces last year, ahead of its June strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.

A senior Iranian official said on Friday that his country would treat any attack “as an all-out war against us.”

Comprehensive Iranian Response

For its part, the Iranian Foreign Ministry warned on Monday of a “comprehensive response that will bring regret to any aggression.”

Its spokesman, Esmail Baghaei, affirmed his country’s confidence in its “defensive capabilities.” Referring to the U.S. aircraft carrier, he added that “the arrival of such a warship will not affect Iran’s resolve and seriousness in defending the nation.”

A senior Iranian military official told state television that “the deployment of forces and equipment from outside the region will not serve as a deterrent but will increase their weakness and turn them into easy targets.”