Iran's Hamshahri newspaper retracted a report claiming Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) spokesperson Mohammad Ali Naini issued a warning to the United States, stating the news resulted from "insufficient verification of credible news" sources by the reporter, Tasnim reported on January 27.

Hamshahri Online apologised to the Revolutionary Guard spokesperson for insufficient accuracy in publishing the news and also apologised to its readers.

The retracted report had quoted Naini as stating: "If their aircraft carrier made a mistake and entered Iranian territorial waters, it would be targeted."

The Javan newspaper separately reported Iran is "ready for a major response" if hit by the US and would seize the strategic Strait of Hormuz, the key transit hub for energy supplies.

The clarification comes as significant US military assets deploy to the region amid escalating tensions. President Donald Trump told Axios on January 27 that Iran is seeking negotiations as the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group arrived in the region.

"We have a big armada next to Iran. Bigger than Venezuela," Trump stated.

Trump declined to discuss military options presented by his national security team but suggested diplomacy remained possible. "They want to make a deal. I know so. They called on numerous occasions. They want to talk," he stated.

The US military deployment includes 23 KC-135R Stratotanker refuelling aircraft at Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia, EA-37B Compass Call II electronic warfare aircraft and MQ-4C Triton UAVs at Al Dhafra Air Base in the UAE.

Analysts say US military options include strikes on military facilities or targeted attacks against the leadership under Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a bid to bring down the system that has ruled Iran since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

It remains unclear what forms of diplomacy are taking place. Tehran has in the past said a channel of communication was open between Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and US special envoy Steve Witkoff, despite the lack of diplomatic relations between the two countries.