Trump says Iran ‘negotiating’ as US warships close in amid rising tensions

President Donald Trump said Iran has begun "talking" with the United States, signaling a potential deal to avert military conflict even as Washington positions a carrier strike group off the Iranian coast.

The deployment of the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier group follows threats from the Trump administration to intervene following a violent crackdown on anti-government protesters in Iran.

Rising tensions have stoked fears of a direct military confrontation. Tehran warned it would launch missile strikes against U.S. bases, warships, and regional allies—specifically Israel—if it comes under attack.

While open to nuclear negotiations, Iranian officials stated they will not discuss the country's missile program or broader national defense capabilities.

The nationwide demonstrations, which were sparked by rising living costs, have evolved into a broader movement against the government.

Casualty figures remain a point of contention. While the Iranian government officially reported 3,117 fatalities, a U.S.-based human rights organization claims to have confirmed 6,563 deaths, including many protesters and children.

The current geopolitical landscape underscores a hallmark of the Trump administration’s foreign policy: the fusion of "maximum pressure" military posturing with public overtures for dialogue. By deploying a carrier strike group as a primary deterrent while simultaneously signaling a willingness to negotiate, Washington is attempting to engineer a diplomatic off-ramp—one that forces Tehran to the bargaining table from a position of significantly diminished leverage.

Both administrations are operating under severe domestic constraints. The Iranian government is currently grappling with a wave of civil unrest and a rising death toll from widespread protests. While a regional conflict might offer a temporary nationalist distraction for the regime, it carries the existential risk of further destabilizing its grip on power. Conversely, the White House is acutely aware that a costly new Middle Eastern entanglement would be politically toxic for a domestic electorate, particularly as the election cycle nears.

However, the most significant systemic risk remains the Strait of Hormuz, the world’s most critical energy transit choke point. Any disruption—whether through direct kinetic engagement or aggressive naval exercises—threatens to send global crude prices into a tailspin. For an export-oriented economy like Vietnam, which remains heavily dependent on energy imports, the fallout would be acute. Sustained price spikes would drive up manufacturing costs and stoke inflationary pressure, while shipping volatility would inevitably fracture the nation’s vital global supply chains.

Potential conflict in the Middle East could directly impact Vietnamese-American small businesses across the country. A spike in gas prices would drive up operational costs, from daily commutes to the shipping and logistics required to supply nail salons, phở restaurants, and retail shops. These rising overheads would inevitably squeeze profit margins, placing further financial strain on business owners who are already vulnerable to economic volatility.