While military movements and official statements suggest that another strike could be approaching, other remarks indicate that Washington may not be planning an attack before the US midterm elections scheduled for November.
Tehran, meanwhile, is preparing for the possibility of renewed hostilities, warning that any new conflict could spread across the region.
US military draws up strike options
The Wall Street Journal reported, citing officials familiar with military planning, that the US military is developing a range of options for striking Iran.
According to the newspaper, two carrier strike groups are currently operating in the Middle East, while a third is heading toward the region from the Pacific. It remains unclear whether all three groups will stay in the Middle East.
The newspaper reported that around 20 US naval vessels are currently in the region, a figure expected to rise to more than 24 with the arrival of an aircraft carrier strike group and a Marine expeditionary unit.
The additional forces would significantly expand the US Navy's ability to conduct round-the-clock operations and give President Donald Trump more military options, including amphibious landings and other missions.
Netanyahu pushes for renewed strikes
Alongside the military buildup, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is pressing for a resumption of strikes inside Iran, the Wall Street Journal reported.
Israel has reportedly provided US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth with a list of potential targets in Iran based on intelligence assessments.
Netanyahu has publicly raised the prospect of using military force against Iran again, arguing that the only way to eliminate the Iranian threat is to overthrow the government in Tehran.
His remarks come as he enters the final week of a closely contested election campaign in an effort to secure another term in office.
Separately, US news outlet Axios reported, citing unnamed officials, that dozens of Israeli fighter jets flew near Iranian airspace on Monday.
According to the sources, the flight was intended to deter Iran but risked triggering a miscalculation that could provoke an Iranian response and reignite the conflict.
Israel's Channel 12 suggested that Tel Aviv may have hoped Iranian forces would fire on the Israeli aircraft, potentially providing a pretext for a new attack on Iran.
Trump again raises military option
US President Donald Trump said at an election rally in South Carolina on Monday that Washington was not negotiating with Iran, adding that something would happen soon, one way or another.
He said many people believed the United States would take action after the Iranian midterm elections, but declined to elaborate, saying only, "We'll see what happens."
"We could leave now, but we want to make sure that what we achieved in Iran lasts for a long time," Trump said.
"We are now ensuring that Tehran does not have a nuclear weapon, and these steps should have been taken years ago," he added.
Trump reiterated that the United States had destroyed Iran's nuclear enrichment capabilities through its operations, dubbed Midnight Hammer and Epic Fury.
White House rules out pre-midterm attack
White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said the United States "will not attack Iran at any time before the midterm elections."
Tim Hawkins, a spokesperson for US Central Command (CENTCOM), which oversees American military operations in the Middle East, told The Wall Street Journal that the military routinely moves its assets but does not disclose details of such deployments for operational security reasons.
The New York Times, meanwhile, reported, citing US officials, that the American and Israeli militaries had drawn up plans for strikes against Iran after the elections, reducing the likelihood of an imminent attack before voters go to the polls.
The Financial Times reported on Wednesday that Netanyahu had instructed the Israeli military earlier this month to prepare plans for renewed strikes against Iran, but Trump opposed the proposal.
Iran warns of wider conflict
Amid growing speculation about a possible return to war, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has threatened to expand any confrontation to include all US military bases in the region.
Tehran is also maintaining its position on the nuclear issue and the management of the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, a key global energy shipping route whose disruption could affect international oil prices.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi wrote in an article published in the Financial Times on Tuesday that Tehran was "prepared to give diplomacy another chance if it sees strong evidence of a genuine US desire to build trust and reach a fair solution."
He warned, however, that "if the United States chooses war over diplomacy, it will undoubtedly lead to an even greater strategic failure."
The New York Times reported, citing Iranian officials, that Tehran was aware of US war plans and was developing new targets and tactics in preparation for a potential confrontation.
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said Tehran had "nothing new to say to America," adding that the United States could regain Iran's trust only by meeting seven conditions.
He also stressed that "threats and military movements cannot influence the Islamic Republic's strategic decisions."
On Tuesday, Tehran informed Islamabad, which is mediating between Iran and the United States, that it rejected transferring its enriched uranium outside the country.
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