Reuters quoted a US official as saying that Israeli officials in Washington are expected to discuss possible military exercises that would prepare for a “worst-case scenario” to destroy Iran’s nuclear facilities should diplomacy fail.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, the source said the scheduled US talks with Israeli Security Minister Benny Gantz follow a briefing by Pentagon leaders to White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan on the available military options that ensure that Iran does not weaponize its nuclear program.

Israeli media, on the other hand, reported that the Mossad Chief provided the Americans with "updated intel on Iran," and the Israeli Security Minister Benny Gantz is expected to warn against the progress of the nuclear program during his visit to the United States today, Thursday.

This comes despite Iran’s continuous denial of seeking nuclear weapons and insistence that it wants to master nuclear technology for peaceful purposes only.

The US official refused to offer further details on the expected military exercises.

“We’re in this pickle because Iran’s nuclear programme is advancing to a point beyond which it has any conventional rationale,” the official said, while still voicing hope for discussions.

On his part, US State Department Spokesperson Ned Price said on Wednesday that the return of the 2015 agreement is possible, adding that US envoy Robert Malley would participate in the nuclear talks with Iran, which will resume Thursday in Vienna.

The top US diplomat reassures that diplomacy is the best option for “preventing Iran from developing nuclear weaponry.”

Earlier, the Iranian delegation to the Vienna talks has five demands; the most pressing of which is the lifting of JCPOA-related sanctions, Al Mayadeen correspondent quoted well-informed Iranian sources as saying.