US Vice President JD Vance is among the senior officials pushing US President Donald Trump towards a new round of negotiations with Iran as a final option before striking the regime, The Wall Street Journal reported on Monday.
Vance, alongside other senior officials, will meet with Trump on Tuesday to try to persuade him to enter a new negotiation round with the Islamic Republic regime before taking military actions in response to the protests in the country and the violent repression by Iranian authorities.
The report by The Journal noted that Trump is weighing whether the US response to the protests should be done with new sanctions against the regime, political support for an Iranian opposition, a new round of negotiations with the regime, or a military operation against the Islamic Republic's assets.
According to political sources contacted by The Journal, President Trump is currently more inclined towards military action against Iran, but his final decision will only come after being briefed on all his options during a Tuesday meeting.
US planning of military operation against Iran reportedly in 'advanced stages'
Another report by the Qatari news network Al Jazeera, citing a senior military source, said that the US military's plans to conduct operations against Iran are in "the advanced stages."
The military options for an operation against the Islamic Republic are "being tailored to circumstances and developments," the official told the outlet.
"Our forces in the Middle East are ready for any contingency, any mission, and to defend themselves and our interests," the source added, according to the report.
Trump announces tariff on Iran allies
Later on Monday, Trump announced that, effective immediately, the US would impose a 25% tariff on any country found to be doing business with Iran in a post on Truth Social.
"Any country doing business with the Islamic Republic of Iran will pay a Tariff of 25% on any and all business being done with the United States of America," Trump stated, adding that the order for the tariff is "final and conclusive."
James Genn and Goldie Katz contributed to this report.