WASHINGTON (TNND) — Nationwide protests in Iran have subsided, but the potential for U.S. intervention has not. By Monday morning, the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group arrived in the Middle East.

"You know we have a lot of ships going that direction just in case. We have a big flotilla going in that direction. And we'll see what happens. It's a big force. We have a big force going toward Iran. I'd rather not see anything happen, but we're watching them very closely," Trump said late last week.

Iranian authorities unveiled a mural in the capital city's famous Enghelab Square depicting exploding fighter planes on board an aircraft carrier. One side of the mural said in English, "If you sow the wind, you will reap the whirlwind."

The commander of Iran's Revolutionary Guard said his forces have their "finger on the trigger," and leaders of two Iran-backed militias in Iraq and Yemen have signaled willingness to retaliate against any U.S. action.

This has unfolded as the world began to get an understanding of the scale of brutality carried out by the regime against its own people. Protests over the country's deteriorating economy began on Dec. 28 and over two weeks, the government cut off internet access, making it difficult to get accurate and timely reports on how many Iranians were being killed by the regime.

Iran's government-issued death toll released last Wednesday stood at 3,117. Activists and human rights groups watching from abroad are confident the true figure is much higher. Citing two Iranian Ministry of Health officials, TIME reported the death toll could be as high as 30,000.

In recent weeks on social media, President Donald Trump warned the regime against killing protesters and pledged support for the Iranian people, many of whom hoped he would act before things got worse.

On Jan. 2, Trump said if Iran kills protesters, "the United States of America will come to their rescue. We are locked and loaded and ready to go.” A week later, he said, “The USA stands ready to help!!!” And on Jan. 13, a post by the president said, “KEEP PROTESTING – TAKE OVER YOUR INSTITUTIONS!!!” and “HELP IS ON ITS WAY.”

That help hasn't come yet, but the mobilization of the USS Abraham Lincoln strike group suggests Trump is keeping his options open. Reza Pahlavi, Iranian opposition leader and son of the former shah of Iran, certainly hopes Trump will act.

“The only chance is to see a cavalry that arrives," Pahlavi said. "We can hold the fort up to a point. At some point, we need to get that air cover and that would change the balance in favor of the people. Hopefully, Iranians will be able to liberate themselves.”