Trump to Decide on US Strike Against Iran Within Two Weeks
US President Trump will decide within the next two weeks whether to authorise a military strike on Iran, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters on Thursday, citing potential diplomatic engagements and the urgent need to curb Tehran’s nuclear ambitions amid escalating Israel‑Iran hostilities.
Leavitt said Trump remains open to diplomacy, stressing he is “a peacemaker in chief,” but will not hesitate to use military force. “I will make my decision whether or not to go within the next two weeks,” she said, noting that any agreement with Iran must completely halt uranium enrichment and dismantle nuclear weapons capacity.
The announcement comes as the U.S. military position in the Middle East intensifies. A third destroyer has entered the eastern Mediterranean, joined by a carrier strike group headed to the Arabian Sea—moves officials say are defensive yet prepare for possible cooperation with Israel.
Since June 13, Israel has launched airstrikes against Iranian nuclear and military sites, including the Arak heavy-water reactor. Iran retaliated with missile and drone strikes on Israeli cities like Beersheba—hitting a hospital—and Tel Aviv, causing both civilian casualties and infrastructure damage.
European leaders urged restraint. British FM David Lammy and his French and German counterparts met with Iran’s foreign minister in Geneva, aiming for de-escalation. Russia and China also called for an immediate return to dialogue.
President Trump has previously said Iran is weeks away from a nuclear weapon and refuses “conditional” diplomacy. He threatened Iran with “unconditional surrender” and praised Israel’s strikes as “excellent.”
Critics caution against rash escalation. U.S. lawmakers warn the repeated “two-week” deadlines could be a stalling tactic, pointing to Trump’s past unmet timelines. Some hawkish Republicans urge action, while isolationists call for restraint.
As this decision looms, global markets and oil prices are jittery, while humanitarian organisations warn of expanding civilian harm. The next 14 days could determine whether the world sees diplomacy or a dramatic leap into a wider U.S. military role in the Middle East.
