Trump Gives Two Weeks to Ruminate on Striking Iran
U.S. President, Donald Trump has announced a two-week window for diplomatic engagement with Iran before making a final decision on whether to authorize a military strike.
The development follows intensifying hostilities between Iran and Israel and growing international concern over the potential for a wider regional conflict.
Speaking through White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, Trump made it clear that while diplomacy remains his first choice, military action is firmly on the table if Iran fails to de-escalate or comply with international expectations.
“Based on the fact that there’s a substantial chance of negotiations that may or may not take place with Iran in the near future, I will make my decision whether or not to go within the next two weeks,” Leavitt quoted the former president as saying during a press briefing.
The announcement comes amid a volatile period in the Middle East. Over the past week, Iran and Israel have exchanged direct strikes in what analysts are calling the most severe military confrontation between the two nations in over a decade. One of the most notable incidents was Iran’s missile attack on Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba, Israel, which left more than 240 people injured. Israel responded by launching precision airstrikes on Iranian nuclear and military sites.
U.S. intelligence officials have confirmed that Iran’s nuclear enrichment capacity has increased substantially, raising alarms that the country could be weeks away from developing a nuclear weapon. Military options under consideration reportedly include airstrikes using bunker-buster bombs targeting fortified nuclear facilities, including Iran’s underground Fordo site.
Despite this, the Biden administration, alongside European allies, is urging restraint. Diplomatic talks are scheduled in Geneva in the coming days, where European mediators will meet with Iranian representatives in a last-ditch effort to restore calm and prevent open warfare.
In Washington, the decision to delay immediate military action is being seen as a strategic pause — a chance to assess Iran’s response to international pressure while reinforcing the U.S. position as both willing to negotiate and capable of responding forcefully if required.
“We are not rushing into war,” Leavitt said. “The president wants to exhaust all diplomatic avenues, but he will not hesitate to act in the interest of American security and that of our allies.”
Meanwhile, Israel’s defense establishment continues to hold Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei directly responsible for the recent missile attacks. In an emergency security council session, Israel’s defense minister threatened to expand Israel’s retaliatory strikes unless Iran backed down immediately.
Global markets are watching the situation closely. Oil prices have fluctuated sharply in response to the uncertainty, and humanitarian organizations are already raising concerns about potential civilian casualties should a broader conflict erupt.
As the world awaits the outcome of the two-week diplomatic window, attention is fixed on Geneva and Tehran. Whether diplomacy will prevail or give way to a military showdown remains to be seen — but for now, the world holds its breath.
Related Developments:
• European diplomats prepare for emergency Iran talks in Geneva
• Israel vows to intensify airstrikes if Iranian aggression continues
• Pentagon places more U.S. assets on standby in the Gulf
Next Steps:
• Outcome of Iran-EU talks may shape U.S. final response
• Monitoring of Iranian nuclear activity intensifies
• Regional and global leaders call for de-escalation and peace
As events unfold, the next fortnight could prove pivotal in determining whether the Middle East inches closer to full-scale conflict or pulls back from the brink through renewed diplomacy.
