"Trump does not bluff, prepared to unleash hell if Iran doesn't accept defeat": White House

Leavitt, while briefing the media, said that Trump prefers peace and postponed the strikes after Iran expressed its willingness to speak.

"President Trump's preference is always peace. However, following his powerful threat on Saturday evening, it was made clear that Iran wanted to talk. As the President announced on Monday, the US has been engaged over the last three days in productive conversations, leading the President to temporarily instruct the Department of War to postpone planned strikes against Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure," she said.

"Let me be clear, Iran should not miscalculate again. Their last miscalculation cost them their senior leadership, their navy, their air force, and their air defense system. President Trump does not bluff, and he is prepared to unleash hell if they refuse to accept the reality that they have been defeated," she added.

Leavitt said that the US has hit over 9,000 enemy targets.

"The United States military continues to decimate the Iranian regime's offensive and defensive capabilities. Just over three weeks in, it is abundantly clear that Operation Epic Fury has been a resounding military triumph. More than 9,000 enemy targets have been struck to date," she said.

Meanwhile, Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says the US is sending messages through different mediators, which "does not mean negotiations", while another source said Tehran sees a 15-point US plan as "extremely maximalist and unreasonable," Al Jazeera reported.

A Department of Defence official told Al Jazeera that the US has ordered the deployment of approximately 2,500 US soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division to the Middle East.

According to the official, the forces scheduled for deployment include commanders and logistical support elements from the division's 1st Combat Brigade. (ANI)