President Donald Trump has become increasingly frustrated with how the Iranians are handling negotiations to end the war, and some of his advisers say he is now taking more seriously the possibility of resuming major military operations than he has in recent weeks.
Trump has lost patience due to the continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz, as well as what he perceives as divisions in the Iranian leadership that hinder making significant concessions in nuclear talks, sources familiar with the discussions told CNN.
Iran's most recent response, which Trump deemed "totally unacceptable" and "stupid," has prompted several officials to question whether Tehran is willing to adopt a serious negotiating position, they said.
Within the administration, there are different camps recommending alternative courses of action, the sources said. Some, including officials from the Pentagon, have advocated for a more aggressive approach to pressure the Iranians to return to the negotiating table - including targeted strikes to further weaken Tehran's position. However, others continue to insist on giving diplomacy a real chance, the sources said.
Many close to Trump want Pakistani mediators to be much more direct in their communication with the Iranians. Some of Trump's officials have long wondered whether the Pakistanis actually convey Trump's dissatisfaction with the state of negotiations firmly, as he has publicly expressed.
Additionally, some administration officials believe that Pakistan often presents the United States with a more favorable version of the Iranian position than reflects reality, two sources said.
Iran needs to know that Trump is frustrated
There has been intense pressure from regional countries and Pakistan to convey to the Iranians that Trump is frustrated and that this is their last chance to seriously engage in diplomacy, but it doesn't seem like Iran is listening or taking anyone seriously, a regional official said on Monday.
This official said that the U.S. and Iran operate with different levels of tolerance and different timelines in approaching negotiations, and Tehran has resisted economic pressure for decades.
Trump met again on Monday with his national security team at the White House to discuss next steps.
Sources familiar with the discussions say that it is unlikely that a major decision on next steps will be made before the president's departure to China, scheduled for Tuesday afternoon.
On Monday, Donald Trump stated that the ceasefire with Iran remains in effect, but it is in critical condition at the moment.
When asked about the current status of the ceasefire, Trump told reporters in the Oval Office: "I would say it's the worst right now, after reading that garbage they sent us. I haven't even finished reading it," he said, according to Reuters.
"I'd say the ceasefire is in critical condition," Trump added, using a metaphor: "It's like when a doctor comes in and says 'Sir, your loved one has a 1% chance (of survival, ed.).'"