Axios: White House weighs Iranian proposal for indirect talks While boosting military presence in Middle East

The White House is seriously considering Iran's proposal for indirect nuclear talks, even as it significantly increases US forces in the Middle East in preparation for potential military strikes if President Trump opts for such an action, according to two US officials who spoke to Axios.

This development is critical as Trump has consistently stated his preference for a diplomatic resolution, but has also warned that without a deal, military action will follow. His timeline is tight: he set a two-month deadline for reaching an agreement, though it's unclear when exactly that clock began ticking.

Internally, the White House remains divided between those who believe a deal is still possible and those who view further talks as futile, backing the option of military strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities. Meanwhile, the Pentagon is heavily reinforcing its presence in the region, ensuring that if Trump decides time has run out, the military is prepared for immediate action.

Over the weekend, Trump received a formal response from Iran to the letter he had sent to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei three weeks ago. While Trump proposed direct nuclear negotiations, Iran responded with a preference for indirect talks, mediated by Oman. The US administration believes direct talks could have a higher chance of success, but has not dismissed Iran's suggested format and does not object to Omani mediation, as Oman has facilitated dialogue between the two nations in the past.

Both US officials emphasized that no final decision has been made and that discussions continue internally. "After the exchange of letters, we are now exploring next steps in order to begin conversations and trust-building with the Iranians," one official stated.

Tensions between Tehran and Washington were already high before Trump’s Sunday threat to bomb Iran if a deal isn’t reached. On March 31, Khamenei responded, expressing disbelief that the US would attack Iran but warning that any such action would provoke a heavy retaliation. Iran also lodged a formal protest, delivered through the Swiss embassy, since the US and Iran do not have direct diplomatic relations, warning that it would "respond decisively and immediately to any threat."

"The US has 10 bases and 50,000 soldiers in the region... If you live in a glass house, you shouldn't throw stones," the commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps said in an interview with Iranian TV earlier this week. Ali Larijani, an adviser to Khamenei and former parliamentary speaker, added that if the US were to bomb Iran's nuclear facilities, Iranian public opinion would push the government to shift its policy and develop nuclear weapons.

Trump's abandonment of the 2015 nuclear deal and his pursuit of a "maximum pressure" strategy were aimed at forcing Iran into a better agreement, but he has failed to secure a new deal, a challenge that also persisted under President Biden. In the meantime, Iran has significantly increased its uranium enrichment and is now considered a nuclear threshold state, though Tehran insists it does not seek nuclear weapons. Iran has also stated it will not negotiate on non-nuclear issues, such as its missile program, which Trump and his team have insisted must be included in any talks.

On April 1, the Pentagon announced it was sending additional troops and air assets to the region, and that two aircraft carriers, the Truman and the Vinson, would remain in the area. Last week, the Pentagon also deployed several B-2 stealth bombers to the Diego Garcia military base in the Indian Ocean, a move US officials say is connected to Trump's two-month deadline to Iran. The B-2 bombers, capable of carrying bunker-buster bombs, would be crucial in any potential military action against Iran's underground nuclear sites.

"Should Iran or its proxies threaten American personnel and interests in the region, the US will take decisive action to defend our people," Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said in a statement.

A US official remarked that Trump does not desire war with Iran but sees the buildup of military assets as necessary to establish deterrence in the ongoing negotiations and to be prepared in case the talks fail and the situation escalates.

By Tamilla Hasanova