Senior security officials estimate that the US will soon complete the deployment of its forces in the Middle East, and that the moment of decision regarding the possibility of a military operation against Iran is approaching.
US President Donald Trump continues to broadcast contradictory messages and create ambiguity around his intentions. At the economic conference in Davos, he said: "The Iranians want to talk now, so we will talk."
In contrast, in a conversation with journalists on board the presidential plane last night, when asked whether he would demand that Iran's Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, resign from his position, he replied: "I don't want to get into it, but they know what we want. There is a lot of killing. We have a massive armada moving towards Iran, and I hope nothing happens and that we don't have to use it."
Senior political officials estimate that the Iranians will try to buy time and disguise the US's intention to exert military pressure on them. However, the chances that Tehran will agree to the American demand to completely halt the nuclear project and the production of ballistic missiles are considered slim. The assessment is that Trump is delaying and even misleading, but has not yet given up on the possibility of delivering a military strike on Iran – although there are different assessments as to its strength, nature and objectives.
