By Steve Holland and Bo Erickson WASHINGTON, Jan 29 (Reuters) - President Donald Trump said on Thursday he planned to speak with Iran, even as the U.S. dispatched another warship to the Middle East and Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth said the military would be ready to carry out whatever the president decided.

He says a "massive Armada" is "moving quickly, with great power, enthusiasm, and purpose" towards Iran.

The president threatened Iran with an approaching warship used in the U.S. military's Venezuela operation, urging them to make a nuclear deal.

Weeks after toppling Venezuela's leader, US President Donald Trump is turning to a similar playbook on Iran, sending what he calls an "armada" near its shores and warning an unpopular government.

Iran-US news live updates: US President Donald Trump is weighing an expanded set of military options against Iran, including possible commando operations at nuclear facilities. Meanwhile, Iran security officials reportedly detained thousands of people to stop further protests.

As Iran faces escalating US rhetoric and a build-up of US military forces in the Gulf, a former CIA officer has disclosed how a secretive "crown of thorns" plot might function

President Donald Trump indicated Iran is seeking negotiations as the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier enters the region and protests continue inside Iran.

The White House and Congress are racing against the clock to to pass a funding bill before tomorrow’s government shutdown deadline. Follow for live updates.