The administration of US President Donald Trump has edged dangerously close to a military confrontation with Iran, according to Axios. Citing a senior adviser to the president, the outlet reports that the likelihood of an American strike on Iran in the coming weeks is assessed at 90 percent.

Sources familiar with the discussions warn that any US operation against Tehran could quickly spiral into a full-scale armed conflict. Unlike previous limited strikes, this would not be a short, symbolic action but a large-scale campaign lasting several weeks and conducted jointly with Israel.

Axios notes that after what officials considered a missed window of opportunity for an attack in January, Washington shifted to a dual-track approach. The strategy combines renewed efforts to negotiate over Iran’s nuclear program with a visible expansion of US military deployments in the region. However, insiders say that if talks collapse, a military scenario would become unavoidable.

Publicly, both sides continue to signal progress in the negotiations. Behind the scenes, though, deep disagreements persist, and US officials reportedly show little confidence that a deal will ultimately be reached.

Against this backdrop, the United States is reinforcing its presence near Iran. Two aircraft carriers, roughly a dozen naval vessels and hundreds of fighter jets — including F-35, F-22 and F-16 aircraft — are being moved into the region, alongside air defense systems. More than 150 cargo planes have already delivered weapons and equipment.

Should diplomacy definitively fail, Axios sources believe Trump is highly likely to authorize a strike. Israel, for its part, is said to be preparing for a possible war within days.