CNN: American Army Ready to Attack Iran at weekend · Global Voices

The White House has been informed that the army may be ready for an attack by the weekend, following a considerable collection of air and sea assets in the Middle East in recent days.

But one source warned that Trump has argued privately both against military action and against military actions and has polled advisers and allies as to what is the best course of action.

Senior administration security officials met at the White House Situations Hall Wednesday to discuss the situation in Iran, according to a person familiar with the meeting.

Trump was also informed by special envoy Steve Whitoff and Jared Kouchner about indirect talks with Iran that took place the previous day.

It was not clear whether Trump would make a decision by the weekend.

He's spending a lot of time thinking about this”, said one source.

It becomes known that the US's willingness to attack by the weekend was reported for the first time by CBS News.

Iranian and American negotiators held meetings for three and a half hours Tuesday during talks in Geneva, though they were closed without a clear solution.

The Iranian chief negotiator said both sides had agreed on a “set of guiding principles”, but an American official said “has yet much detail to discuss”.

White House Press Secretary Caroline Leavet has stated that Iran is expected to provide more details on its negotiating position “within the next two weeks”, but it did not say whether Trump will suspend military action within this period of time.

Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is expected to travel to Israel on 28 February to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and inform him of the talks with Iran, according to a State Department official.

“won't set deadlines on behalf of the president of the United States”, Leavitt said, Television reports, broadcast Periscope.

She added that while “diplomacy is always his first option”, military action remains on the table.

“has many reasons and arguments that one can present for an attack on Iran”, she said, adding that Trump was relying on the advice of his national security team “before all”.

Dark statements have sparked growing fears of military conflict between the two nations, even though seemingly officials hope for diplomacy.

USS Gerald Ford's most advanced group of carriers at the American arsenal may arrive in the region this weekend, following a host of other military preparations.

U.S.-based U.S. Air Force assets, including fuel supply tanks and fighter planes, are being repositioned closer to the Middle East.

In turn, Iran is fortifying some of its nuclear facilities, according to new satellite images and analysis by the Institute for Science and International Security.

A number of events can play a role at the time of an attack.

The Winter Olympics traditionally end a moment of global unity on Sunday; some European officials said they believed there would be no attack prior to that time.

Meanwhile, Ramadan began today; some officials from US allies in the Middle East who have lobbied against an attack, fearing regional destabilisation, said an attack during the holy Muslim month would express disrespect.