Regional sources told Axios that progress had been achieved and a draft agreement could be reached over the weekend, leaving President Trump to determine whether Washington will accept the proposal. Sources told Axios that U.S. strikes had reached the ceiling of their operational effectiveness short of launching a full-scale combat operation, plans for which remain prepared should negotiations collapse. Advertisement AdvertisementAdvertisement AdvertisementWhile Trump reiterated that Washington retains the option to "knock out everything they have," he noted that securing a deal represents the "smarter strategy." U.S. forces recently disabled a tanker attempting to breach Washington's maritime blockade near Iran after the vessel ignored repeated warnings. (Simon M contributed reporting)Related articlesU.S. pauses Iran air strikes as Trump signals push for dealCiti pushes back Fed rate cuts to May after blowout January jobs reportWolfe Research outlines eight risks that could spark stock declines in 2026