India, April 2 -- US President Donald Trump is seriously considering an Iranian proposal for indirect nuclear talks while simultaneously ramping up US military presence in the Middle East in case he chooses to conduct military strikes, Axios reported on Wednesday, citing sources.

Unidentified US officials, cited by Axios, said that the Trump administration thinks direct talks would have a higher chance of success, but it also does not rule out the format the Iranians proposed and doesn't object to Oman serving as mediator.

Last week, Trump had threatened that Iran would be bombed if it persisted in developing nuclear weapons.

"If they don't make a deal, there will be bombing," NBC News said the president told one of its correspondents ...