President Donald Trump has been told that the US military is ready to launch military action against Iran as early as Saturday. But if an operation is carried out, it is unlikely to begin this weekend, sources said, CBS reports.

It added that the US president has not yet made a final decision on a possible strike on Iran, as the White House is weighing the consequences of both escalation and deterrence.

In recent days, the US has deployed about 70 military cargo planes and about 50 fighter jets to the Middle East. One US aircraft carrier strike group has been deployed to the Gulf of Oman, and a second one will be deployed off the coast of Israel in the Mediterranean Sea.