President Donald Trump told Iran to strike a nuclear deal immediately. ‘Deal, deal and only deal,’ he said Tuesday at the White House. The blunt message came as U.S.-Iran tensions simmered higher.

Trump accused Iranian leaders of killing thousands of protesters in recent unrest. He charged Tehran with severe human rights violations. The Iranian people deserve better, Trump added, expressing sympathy for ordinary citizens.

Iran backed off harsher crackdowns only after U.S. threats of military action, according to Trump. His remarks highlighted Washington’s use. No details emerged on specific U.S. warnings delivered to Tehran.

The warning coincided with a major U.S. military move. The nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford deployed to the western Mediterranean. It joins the USS Abraham Lincoln strike group already in position.

Officials described the deployments as a show of readiness. The two carrier groups signal U.S. resolve amid stalled nuclear negotiations. Iran has rejected direct talks with Washington since Trump pulled out of the 2015 accord in 2018.

Trump reiterated his call for a new agreement. He wants terms that curb Iran’s nuclear advances and missile program. Tehran insists on lifting U.S. sanctions first.

Recent protests rocked Iran over economic woes and government policies. State media reported minimal deaths. Trump disputed those figures, claiming thousands perished.

U.S. officials track Iran’s uranium enrichment closely. The Islamic Republic nears weapons-grade levels, according to a recent International Atomic Energy Agency report. Trump has vowed to prevent Tehran from acquiring atomic bombs.

The White House provided no timeline for talks. Spokespeople emphasized diplomacy backed by strength. Iran’s foreign minister dismissed the overture as empty rhetoric.

Military analysts noted the carrier positioning. The USS Gerald R. Ford carries advanced F-35 jets. Together with USS Abraham Lincoln, the groups pack hundreds of aircraft and thousands of sailors.

Tensions spiked after Iran seized oil tankers in the Gulf. The U.S. responded with sanctions and naval patrols. Trump mulled airstrikes last year but held back.

European allies urged restraint. Britain, France and Germany seek to salvage the nuclear pact. Trump called it flawed from the start.

Iran’s supreme leader rejected negotiations under pressure. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned of retaliation to any aggression. U.S. bases in the region remain on high alert.

Trump’s deal push echoes his first term approach. He met North Korea’s Kim Jong Un multiple times. No similar summit looms with Iran.

Markets watched warily. Oil prices ticked up on buildup news. Global trade routes through the Strait of Hormuz carry one-fifth of world crude.

The president wrapped his remarks with a nod to Iran’s potential. A fair deal could unlock prosperity, he said. Without it, options stay open.