U.S. warships approach Iran amid reports of widespread brutality by ayatollah's security forces

A key Iranian military commander warned President Trump that Iran's Revolutionary Guard is ready to fight — "finger on the trigger" — if the U.S. attacks the Islamic regime.

Gen. Mohammad Pakpour delivered the defiant remarks as U.S. warships headed toward Iran amid shocking reports that Iranian security forces, including Gen. Pakpour's Revolutionary Guard, killed or executed at least 40,000 anti-regime protesters on Jan. 8 and Jan. 9 — a death toll much higher than international observers had originally feared.

Mr. Trump said Thursday that an "armada" of U.S. warships had been dispatched to Iran after he had warned the regime to stop killing protesters.

So many people were killed by Iranian authorities during the two-day purge that it became nearly impossible for the country's health services to keep up, according to reports Sunday.