Florida, Feb. 1 -- US President Donald Trump on Sunday said he was "hopeful" that Iran would "make a deal" with Washington, hours after Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned that any conflict initiated by the United States would turn into a "regional war".

Trump added that if the deal does not go through, it would become clear whether Khamenei's warning was correct.

Speaking to reporters at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida, Trump said the US had deployed significant military assets in the region but preferred a diplomatic outcome amid escalating tensions between the two countries.

"We have the biggest, most powerful ships in the world over there, very close, and in a couple of days, hopefully, we'll make a deal. If we...