WASHINGTON — President Trump said Thursday he would make his final decision on whether to strike Iran in the “next two weeks,” because he’s still hoping for negotiations.
“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,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters, reading a statement directly from Trump during her daily briefing.
The press secretary stressed that Iran currently has the capability of creating a nuclear weapon — and could do so with the directive of their Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
“Iran has all that it needs to keep a nuclear weapon,” Leavitt said. “All they need is a decision from the Supreme leader to do that.”
Read the latest on the conflict between Israel and Iran
Trump said Wednesday that the Iranians were looking to go to the White House to talk to him directly — but noted that may be difficult given they would have to travel from Tehran, which is being pummeled by targeted strikes from Israel.
“If there’s a chance for diplomacy, he’s not afraid to grab it,” Leavitt said.
Talks are set to happen between Europe and Iran on Friday, with Iran’s Foreign Minister Araghchi meeting his UK, French, German, and EU counterparts in Geneva, Switzerland, but none have been scheduled yet in Washington.
Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff, who has been in charge of negotiations with Iran, is not set to attend the talks, Leavitt said.
The deal would mean Iran agreeing to no more uranium enrichment.
Trump has said he told Iran to make that deal back in April, giving them a 60-day window, but they refused, leading to Israeli strikes on key nuclear sites and the killing of top Iranian military officials.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has asked Trump to involve the US military to eliminate Iran’s remaining storage of uranium, has warned that negotiating with Iran will lead nowhere, as it has in the past.
Whether the president “wants to join or not — that’s entirely his decision,” Netanyahu told the Hebrew-language public broadcaster Kan News.
The Israeli PM also revealed that the IDF has “the capability” to take out two remaining nuclear facilities without the US if necessary.
“We will achieve all our objectives and hit all of their nuclear facilities,” Netanyahu added.
In the end, Trump will look to achieve Iran not having a nuclear weapon through diplomacy, but is still open to strikes, Leavitt said.
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“I think the president has made it clear he always wants to pursue diplomacy. But believe me, the president is unafraid to use strength if necessary.”
Israel has asked for US involvement particularly to use its bunker-busting bombs on the Fordow nuclear facility hidden deep in an Iranian mountain.
Trump has said he’s considering it — but that his final choice will come “seconds” before he acts.
