Trump Admin Closer To War With Iran, Sources Say, After Nations Hold Nuclear Talks
The Trump administration appears to be moving closer to military action against Iran, sources tell Axios. Iran is preparing, and so is Israel.
The U.S. continues to amass a massive force just off Iran’s coast. The Trump-backed buildup includes two aircraft carriers, a dozen warships, hundreds of fighter jets, and multiple air defense systems — some still en route. In the past day alone, 50 additional fighter jets have been deployed.
Iran is deploying forces, decentralizing military decision-making, fortifying its nuclear sites, and continuing its crack down on domestic dissent, the Wall Street Journal reports.
Israel is also on high alert. Sources tell Axios the military operation would “likely be a joint U.S.-Israeli campaign.”
It comes as U.S. and Iranian officials wrapped their second round of nuclear talks on Tuesday.
INSIDE THE TALKS
A nuclear deal does not look likely, as Vice President JD Vance said Iran failed to acknowledge core U.S. demands in the talks. He added that U.S. military action remains on the table.
Iranian officials said both sides agreed on “guiding principles” during the nuclear talks.
The U.S. delegation, including Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner, said Iran would return within two weeks with detailed proposals to address remaining gaps.
“I don’t think they want the consequences of not making a deal,” Trump told reporters late Monday, before Tuesday’s talks. “They want to make a deal.” Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei responded Tuesday, saying the nation would retaliate against any U.S. military action.
WHAT AN OPERATION COULD LOOK LIKE
Sources tell Axios reporter Barak Ravid that a U.S. military operation would likely be joined by Israel, and “would be broader in scope— and more existential for the regime— than the Israeli-led 12-day war last June, which the U.S. eventually joined to take out Iran’s underground nuclear facilities.”
"The boss is getting fed up. Some people around him warn him against going to war with Iran, but I think there is 90% chance we see kinetic action in the next few weeks," a Trump adviser told Axios.