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U.S. President Donald Trump is approaching a pivotal decision on the future of the conflict with Iran, with U.S. and Israeli officials considering two possible paths, according to Axios.
One option would involve a new 10-day ceasefire aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz and creating space for renewed diplomacy. The other would see the United States and Israel launch a broader joint military campaign intended to force Tehran into concessions.
Axios reported that Trump has not yet made a final decision, but officials said the coming days could determine which course Washington takes as the conflict continues to disrupt security and shipping in the Persian Gulf.
Qatar, Egypt, Pakistan and other regional mediators have proposed a 10-day truce to both Washington and Tehran. U.S. officials said the Trump administration is reviewing the proposal and has urged Israel to avoid actions that could undermine diplomatic efforts.
At the same time, Washington is preparing for the possibility that negotiations could fail. The U.S. military has deployed additional fighter jets and aerial refueling aircraft to the region in recent days to strengthen its posture in case of a wider conflict.
Israeli officials told Axios that the Israel Defense Forces are on heightened alert and are preparing for the possibility that the fighting could escalate into a large-scale joint military operation within days.
According to the report, regional mediators are racing to halt the exchange of strikes, warning that each new attack makes the conflict deadlier, more costly and harder to contain. A temporary ceasefire would also allow both sides to try to preserve the existing memorandum of understanding, which is at risk of collapsing.
"We told the United States and Iran that we are proposing a cooling-off period," one regional source told Axios.
However, neither Trump nor Iran has accepted the proposal so far. According to the report, both sides appear determined to strengthen their negotiating positions through additional military strikes before considering a ceasefire.
The latest escalation follows ten consecutive nights of U.S. strikes on Iranian territory after the deaths of additional American service members and Iranian attacks targeting U.S. partners in Kuwait, Jordan and Bahrain. Despite the fighting, diplomatic contacts continue, with Iran's Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni visiting Pakistan, one of the key regional mediators.
