Trump to decide on US involvement in attack on Iran within two weeks, says White House
PTC News Desk: The White House on Thursday said that
President Donald Trump will decide in two weeks that weather to launch a
military strike against Iran. The announcement follows fallout between
Washington and Tehran in the backdrop of Israel-Iran war.
Quoting a message from Trump, White House Press Secretary Karoline
Leavitt told reporters, "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."
She further added that Trump is open to dialogue with Iran as his
main objective is to prevent the country from acquiring nuclear weapon. She
added that any agreement must ban uranium enrichment by Tehran and dismantle
its capacity to develop nuclear arms.
"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.
The development comes after Trump officially
approved the plans to strike Iran but yet to issue official orders.
On being asked if he had made a decision to attack Iran, Trump
said 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."
Israel carried out strikes on nuclear-related targets in Iran on
Thursday, prompting a retaliatory barrage of missiles and drones from Tehran,
including one that damaged a hospital in Beersheba.
Earlier in the day, Israel’s defense minister threatened Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali
Khamenei after Iranian
missiles crashed into a major hospital in southern Israel and hit
residential buildings near Tel Aviv, wounding at least 240 people. Israel’s
military “has been instructed and knows that in order to achieve all of its
goals, this man absolutely should not continue to exist,” Defense Minister
Israel Katz said.
A new diplomatic initiative appeared to be underway as Iran’s
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi prepared to travel Friday to Geneva for
meetings with the European Union’s top diplomat and counterparts from the
United Kingdom, France and Germany.
Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with UK Foreign
Minister David Lammy and held separate calls with his Australian, French and
Italian counterparts to address the escalating conflict between Israel and
Iran. According to the US State Department, all parties agreed that Iran must
never be allowed to develop or obtain nuclear weapons. Lammy echoed the
sentiment on X, warning that the Middle East remains in a dangerous state but
noted a two-week window for diplomacy may still exist.
- With inputs from agencies
