Axios: U.S.-Iran talks remain stalled as Netanyahu pushes Trump to prepare for possible renewed strikes

U.S.-Iran negotiations are neither fully dead nor meaningfully active, Axios reported Tuesday, citing a U.S. official who said Washington is continuing to increase pressure on Tehran while hoping diplomacy eventually prevails.

"The negotiations are not really dead, but they're not really alive," the official said, adding that the U.S. is "piling on the pressure" and believes "smarter heads will prevail" in Iran.

The same official said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appears to want renewed military action against Iran and has raised the issue several times with U.S. President Donald Trump.

According to the official, Trump has told Netanyahu to "go ahead and get ready," but has made no commitment to support new strikes. The official said that could mean action now, later or never.

Axios reported that Qatari mediators are still waiting for Iran to respond to the latest U.S. counterproposal aimed at ending the conflict, while Trump said Tuesday that Washington would make a decision on Iran "very soon."