President Donald Trump said Iran wants to reach a deal with Washington, as the U.S. deploys an aircraft carrier strike group to the Middle East to bolster its military posture.

Speaking in an interview with Axios, Trump said the situation with Iran is “in flux” and pointed to the arrival of what he described as a “big armada” near Iran.

“They want to make a deal. I know so. They called on numerous occasions. They want to talk,” Trump said.

The U.S. Central Command said the USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group entered the region “to promote regional security and stability,” as Washington increases its presence amid heightened tensions.

Iran has faced waves of protests since late December, initially sparked by the sharp fall of the Iranian rial and worsening economic conditions, before spreading to several cities.

• Iran protests: senior official says 5,000 killed
• UN condemns Iran over protest deaths as Tehran warns of all-out war

Trump has warned Tehran he would “hit hard” if protesters were killed, though he later said Iran had cancelled hundreds of planned executions.

Iranian officials accuse the U.S. and Israel of backing what they describe as “armed rioters” and say any U.S. attack would draw a “swift and comprehensive” response.

Tensions remain high following a 12-day war last June, when Israel, with U.S. backing, struck Iran, triggering Iranian drone and missile retaliation before Washington announced a ceasefire.

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