The administration of United States President (US) Donald Trump is getting closer to deciding to start a major war with Iran, according to the American media outlet Axios, citing statements from several unnamed officials.
Although some Axios sources believe the US needs more time for military action, a Trump adviser, who wished to remain anonymous, told the American media outlet that Trump is losing patience.
"The boss is getting fed up with everything. Some in his circle are advising him not to go to war with Iran, but I think the probability of a strike in the next few weeks is 90 percent," said the unnamed adviser.
Two anonymous Israeli officials told Axios that the Israeli government, which is pushing for regime change in Iran, is preparing for a scenario where war begins within days.
Axios states that in early January, when the Iranian authorities' repression of protesters began, in which thousands of people died, Trump was close to ordering an attack, but the opportune moment for that passed, so the administration switched to a two-track approach, which consists of negotiations on Iran's nuclear program while building up the military in the Middle East.
The US has deployed a large number of warships near Iran since early January.
Among them are two aircraft carriers, including the USS Abraham Lincoln, more than a dozen warships, hundreds of fighter jets and multiple air defense systems.
The American newspaper The New York Times reported last week that the crew of the aircraft carrier "Gerald Ford" had received orders to move the carrier and its accompanying ships from the Caribbean to the Middle East.
According to four US officials who spoke on condition of anonymity, the Ford's return to its home port is not expected before late April or early May.
Axios reports that US military transport planes have made more than 150 flights to US bases in the Middle East, carrying weapons and ammunition.
In the past 24 hours, another 50 American fighter jets, such as F-35, F-22 and F-16, have headed to the region.
Axios' sources estimate that a potential war between the US and Iran would last several weeks.
One of the sources of the American media believes that the US would likely conduct the military operation with Israel, and that it would be larger than the one launched by Israel 12 days last June, with US support.
A US delegation, led by Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, held a second round of talks with Iran in Geneva yesterday, whose delegation was led by Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi.
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Axios reports that US officials are not optimistic about a deal, although both sides have publicly said that "progress has been made" in the talks.
US Vice President J.D. Vance told Fox News that in some aspects of the negotiations it was "very clear" that Iran "is not yet ready" to actually acknowledge some of the limits set by Trump, and that while he wants a deal, he could determine that diplomatic efforts have "reached their natural end."
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