WASHINGTON -- US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that he has had conversations with Iranian leaders and plans to continue discussions.

"I have had and I am planning on it," Trump said when asked if he had any conversations with Iran in the last few days. But he did not specify whom he had spoken with.

"We have a lot of very big, very powerful ships sailing to Iran right now, and it would be great if we didn't have to use them," he said.

"I told them two things," he said. "Number one, no nuclear. And number two, stop killing protesters."

Trump said Wednesday that a "massive armada," headed by aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln and larger than the one sent to Venezuela, was heading toward Iran. He warned that "time is running out" for Tehran to reach a deal with Washington.