Trump to decide on Iran action within two weeks, White House says
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President Trump will make a decision "within two weeks" on whether to join Israel's war against Iran to eliminate its nuclear program, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters on Thursday.
Why it matters: Citing the "chance for substantial negotiations" with Iran, Trump is leaving the door open to a diplomatic solution in the coming days that could avert a major escalation in the Middle East.
State of play: Trump met with his top national security team in the Situation Room on Thursday — the third such meeting in three days. He's seriously considering joining the war, but wants to ensure three things are true, U.S. officials say:
- That a military strike is truly necessary.
- That the operation wouldn't drag the U.S. into a prolonged war in the Middle East.
- And most of all, that it would achieve the goal of destroying Iran's nuclear program.
What they're saying: "I have a message directly from the president: 'Based on the fact that there is a chance for substantial negotiations that may or may not take place with Iran in the near future, I will make my decision on whether or not to go within the next two weeks,'" Leavitt said at Thursday's White House briefing.
- Leavitt made clear that any diplomatic deal must ensure that Iran cannot enrich uranium or build a nuclear weapon.
Behind the scenes: As Trump has deliberated in recent days over whether to join the war, special envoy Steve Witkoff has maintained direct communication with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, as Axios reported Wednesday.
- Trump said Wednesday that Iran still wants to negotiate with the U.S. and has even proposed sending a delegation to the White House.
- He cautioned, however, that it was getting "very late" for talks and he may soon authorize strikes on Iran's nuclear program.
- U.S. officials said no meeting between U.S. and Iranian officials has been set yet.
What to watch: The foreign ministers of France, Germany and the U.K., along with the European Union's foreign policy chief, are set to meet with Araghchi in Geneva on Friday, a source with knowledge of the situation said.
- Leavitt said the U.S. will evaluate what comes out of that meeting. "The president always wants to use diplomacy, but is not afraid to use force if necessary," she stressed.
- A European official said the EU's foreign policy chief spoke by phone with Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Wednesday and informed him of the planned meeting with his Iranian counterpart.
- U.K. Foreign Secretary David Lammy met with Rubio and Witkoff at the White House on Thursday, and tweeted that a "window now exists within the next two weeks to achieve a diplomatic solution."
This story is breaking news. Please check back for updates.
