President Trump [Reuters=Yonhap News]

U.S. President Donald Trump indicated his support for Israel's potential strike on Iran's ballistic missile program if U.S.-Iran negotiations fail, CBS News reported on the 15th (local time).

According to sources who requested anonymity, President Trump conveyed this intention during a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Mar-a-Lago, Florida, in December last year.

In connection with this, CBS reported that internal discussions have begun among high-ranking officials in the U.S. military and intelligence agencies to review the possibility of supporting Israel's potential retaliatory strike against Iran.

Multiple U.S. officials familiar with the matter said that the U.S. discussions are primarily focused on providing aerial refueling support for Israeli aircraft and securing flight clearance from countries along potential flight paths.

The U.S., which has resumed nuclear negotiations with Iran after an eight-month hiatus, is maintaining a "two-track" approach of applying military pressure on Iran while simultaneously engaging in dialogue.

The U.S. is escalating its pressure on Iran by deploying the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln to the Middle East and deciding to deploy a second aircraft carrier.

President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu (left) [AP Yonhap News]

Speaking to reporters at the White House on the 13th, President Trump stated that the second carrier deployment "will be necessary in case the negotiations fail."

He also said that he "thinks the negotiations with Iran will be successful," adding, "If not, it will be a very bad day for Iran."

However, Prime Minister Netanyahu has publicly expressed skepticism about the possibility of a diplomatic agreement.

On the 12th, Prime Minister Netanyahu stated that he had conveyed his negative views on the Iran nuclear negotiations to President Trump, saying, "If they reach an agreement, it must include important elements beyond just nuclear, such as ballistic missiles and Iran's proxy forces."

As the U.S. increases military pressure on Iran, its consideration of supporting an Israeli strike appears to further clarify its stance on military options against Iran should negotiations collapse.

The U.S. and Iran, which resumed nuclear negotiations in Oman on the 6th, are scheduled to continue their nuclear talks in Geneva, Switzerland, on the 17th.