The White House is evaluating an Iranian proposal for indirect nuclear talks while simultaneously reinforcing US military forces in the Middle East, according to US officials who spoke to Axios.
The dual-track approach comes as President Donald Trump warns of devastating strikes if diplomacy fails.
Trump repeatedly stated his preference for a deal but issued stark warnings. "If they don't make a deal, there will be bombing. It will be bombing the likes of which they have never seen before," he told NBC News. While he set a two-month deadline for negotiations, the exact timeline remains unclear.
A US official confirmed that Trump recently received Iran’s formal response to his letter sent to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei weeks ago.
Iran has agreed only to Oman-mediated indirect talks and refuses to discuss non-nuclear issues like its missile program -- a key US demand.
Although the White House opts for direct talks, it is not ruling out Tehran’s offer, said sources, adding no decision has been made.
The US National Security Council did not immediately respond to Anadolu's request for confirmation.