The United States and Israel had prepared for the possibility of military action against Iran over the weekend, but US President Donald Trump held back from ordering strikes as mediators continued efforts to secure an agreement between Washington and Tehran, the Jerusalem Post has reported.
According to two sources cited by the newspaper, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a meeting with senior security officials on Friday afternoon, while the US military was also preparing for the possibility of receiving an order from Trump to resume military operations.
Meanwhile, mediators continued their efforts to reach an agreement between the US and Iran. Two diplomatic sources told the Jerusalem Post that Trump had given Vice-President JD Vance and other senior administration officials “a few days” to secure a deal.
In an interview with CNN, Trump said the likelihood of ordering the US military back into the conflict would be “very low” if progress was made in negotiations between Tehran and Washington.
At the same time, the United States has continued to strengthen its military presence in the region.
Reports say the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt and its accompanying strike group have left Singapore after several days there and are heading towards the US Central Command area of operations. The carrier group is expected to reach the region in the coming days.
Separately, the amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island also left Japan over the weekend and is heading towards the Middle East.
On Sunday evening, Trump said the special force known as “Iron Gate” was operating at full capacity.
He claimed that the force, alongside the US naval blockade, which he described as “the largest blockade in history”, had left almost nothing able to enter or leave Iran.
