Iran-US relations on knife-edge

US president Donald Trump has announced plans to avoid a military confrontation with Iran.

In a message to his aides, Trump said he does not want the US pressure campaign against Iran to explode into an open conflict.

His concern comes a week after his national security adviser, John Bolton announced that the US was sending an aircraft carrier strike group and bomber taskforce to the middle east to counter a threat from Tehran.

Trump has described the news as fake.

The Trump administration’s pressure policy through harsh sanctions and hostile rhetoric had since put Washington on a collision course with Tehran.