News Brief
Trump To Decide On Possible Iran Military Strike Within Two Weeks, Says White House
US President Donald Trump
US President Donald Trump is expected to decide within the next two weeks whether to launch a military strike on Iran, the White House said Thursday (19 June), amid escalating tensions over the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict, India Today reported.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, quoting a message from Trump, said: "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 added that Trump is open to diplomacy but remains firm on stopping Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
She clarified that any potential agreement must prohibit uranium enrichment and dismantle Tehran's nuclear weapon development infrastructure.
"The president is always interested in a diplomatic solution...he is a peacemaker in chief. He is the peace through strength president. And so if there's a chance for diplomacy, the president's always going to grab it," Leavitt said.
"But he's not afraid to use strength as well I will add," she added.
When asked about a possible strike, Trump stated earlier, "I may do it, I may not do it."
He added, "The next week is going to be very big, maybe less than a week."
On Thursday, Israel launched strikes targeting Iranian nuclear facilities, triggering a retaliatory wave of missiles and drones from Iran—one of which damaged a hospital in Beersheba.
Following an Iranian missile strike on Soroka Medical Centre in southern Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a strong warning, saying, "Tehran's tyrants will pay the full price".
