Trump to Decide on U.S. Role in Iran Strikes Within Two Weeks, White House Confirms

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has just announced that President Donald J. Trump will decide “within the next two weeks” whether the United States will join Israel’s strikes against Iran’s nuclear facilities, a decision hinging on the outcome of ongoing diplomatic efforts. Speaking at a White House briefing, Leavitt conveyed Trump’s message: “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.” Trump emphasized his primary goal is to prevent Iran from enriching uranium and acquiring a nuclear weapon, stating, “Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon … They’d use it. I believe they’d use it.”

Trump, who claimed Iran was “a few weeks away” from developing a nuclear weapon before Israel’s recent strikes, expressed frustration over Tehran’s rejection of a proposed deal. “They should’ve made that deal. I had a great deal for them. They should’ve made that deal. In the end, they decided not to do it, and now they wish they did it,” he told reporters. Despite Iran’s reported shift to using heavy bombs in its latest barrage, which struck Soroka Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Holon, and Ramat Gan, Trump remains hopeful for a diplomatic resolution, noting, “They want to meet at the White House.” However, he underscored U.S. military support for Israel, saying, “We now have complete and total control of the skies over Iran,” with American technology aiding Israeli airstrikes.

Regarding Iran’s fortified Fordo nuclear facility, Trump acknowledged U.S. capability to destroy it but remained noncommittal: “We’re the only ones that have the capability to do it, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to do it, at all.” Leavitt reiterated that Trump’s “top priority” is ensuring Iran does not obtain a nuclear weapon, adding, “The entire world is on the president’s side when it comes to the fact that Iran cannot obtain a nuclear weapon.” Analyst Ben Yaniv noted that Trump’s public delay “buys himself time and space for additional diplomacy,” allowing him to assess whether Iran finds the U.S. proposal, led by envoy Steve Witkoff, more appealing after suffering losses to its missile arsenal, nuclear facilities, and senior military leaders. Yaniv suggested Trump may also be giving Israel time for covert operations against Fordo or allowing Russia and China to mediate, while weighing the risks of retaliatory attacks on U.S. bases if a strike is authorized.

Israel’s Operation Rising Lion, launched on June 13, has killed key Iranian figures like Maj. Gen. Ali Shadmani and damaged sites like Natanz, yet Iran’s nuclear program persists, with 400 kg of 60% enriched uranium stored at Fordo. Trump’s timeline, coinciding with U.S. Independence Day, suggests strategic caution, as launching a war around this date seems unlikely. As European and Gulf states push for a ceasefire and renewed nuclear talks, Trump’s decision will shape the trajectory of this escalating conflict.