Washington, DC, July 21: US President Donald Trump is weighing two possible courses of action amid the escalating conflict between the United States and Iran — supporting a proposed 10-day ceasefire aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz or backing a fresh military campaign alongside Israel, according to an Axios report citing senior US, Israeli and regional officials.
The report said Trump has not taken a final decision, with officials indicating that the coming days could determine whether Washington pursues diplomacy or further military action.
According to Axios, mediators from Qatar, Egypt, Pakistan and other regional countries have proposed a 10-day ceasefire between the United States and Iran. The proposal includes a temporary halt to hostilities, reopening of shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz and a window for negotiations on a longer-term arrangement governing maritime transit.
Regional sources told Axios that the Trump administration is reviewing the proposal and has, for now, urged Israel not to take steps that could affect diplomatic efforts. At the same time, the United States has reinforced its military presence in the region by deploying additional fighter aircraft and aerial refuelling assets, while Israel is preparing for the possibility of a wider military campaign if negotiations fail.
The report said neither Washington nor Tehran has accepted the ceasefire proposal so far, with both sides continuing military operations while seeking to strengthen their negotiating positions.Axios reported that regional mediators resumed efforts following talks held earlier this month in Muscat involving Oman, Iran and Qatar. Under the proposed framework, shipping through the Strait of Hormuz would resume during the ceasefire while both sides negotiate a longer-term agreement.”We told the United States and Iran that we are proposing a cooling-off period,” a regional source told Axios.
The proposal also includes options for future maritime security arrangements, including allowing Iran and Oman to collect service fees for shipping-related operations or establishing a joint fund with the participation of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the report said.
According to Axios, diplomatic efforts slowed after an Iranian missile strike in Jordan killed American service members, prompting Washington to pause negotiations.
A senior US official told Axios that President Trump remains focused on holding Iran accountable for violating the Memorandum of Understanding, its activities in the Strait of Hormuz and the deaths of American soldiers. The official said US military strikes would continue until the President decided otherwise.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei confirmed that mediators were working to prevent further escalation but declined to discuss the details of the proposals. He said Iran’s armed forces would continue to respond to what he described as American aggression.
Axios reported that it remains uncertain whether Trump will endorse the ceasefire proposal or continue military operations, with regional sources saying the White House could authorise additional strikes before making a final decision.