U.S. President Donald Trump said Thursday he will wait up to two weeks before deciding whether to commit American forces to support Israel’s ongoing military strikes on Iran, citing a “substantial” opportunity for diplomatic talks that could avert a broader regional war.
The announcement, delivered through White House Press Secretary, Karoline Leavitt, marks a significant pause in what many feared could escalate into direct U.S.-Iranian conflict.
Trump’s statement comes amid heightened tensions and speculation over Washington’s next move following Israel’s attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities and military targets last week.
“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 said in a written message read aloud at a White House press briefing.
Trump’s statement followed back-to-back meetings with his national security team, held for the third consecutive day in the White House Situation Room.
He is expected to continue these high-level briefings daily until his departure for the NATO summit in the Netherlands on Monday.
Although critics have noted that Trump has previously set similar two-week deadlines on issues such as the Russia-Ukraine war, only to later shift timelines, Leavitt insisted the President was not stalling but giving diplomacy a fair chance.
“If there’s a chance for diplomacy, the president’s always going to grab it. But he’s not afraid to use strength as well,” she said.
Still, Leavitt struck a tone of urgency, warning reporters that Iran could develop a nuclear weapon within a matter of weeks.
“Iran has all that it needs to achieve a nuclear weapon. All they need is a decision from the supreme leader to do that, and it would take a couple of weeks to complete the production,” she said.
Iran, however, denies pursuing nuclear weapons, insisting its atomic program is intended for peaceful purposes.
Tensions escalated further on Wednesday after Trump claimed Iranian officials had requested to send emissaries to the White House to negotiate a new nuclear agreement and end hostilities with Israel, a claim that Iranian authorities swiftly rejected.
Despite the denial, Leavitt confirmed that Washington and Tehran have maintained “correspondence” since the Israeli strikes began, although there are currently no plans for Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, to join European diplomats in Geneva for talks with Iran’s Foreign Minister on Friday.
During the briefing, Leavitt underscored the unique role the U.S. plays in the unfolding crisis.
“We have capabilities that no other country on this planet possesses,” she said, referring to America’s bunker-buster bombs, powerful munitions that could be critical in targeting Iran’s heavily fortified Fordo nuclear enrichment site.
The delay in decision-making highlights the internal and external pressures Trump faces.
While the President has voiced strong support for Israel’s military actions, his political base remains deeply divided.
Prominent figures within Trump’s "Make America Great Again" (MAGA) movement, including media personality, Tucker Carlson, and former chief strategist, Steve Bannon, have publicly opposed military intervention, urging Trump to honor his longstanding pledge to end America’s involvement in foreign wars.
“Trust in President Trump. President Trump has incredible instincts,” Leavitt said, appealing to MAGA loyalists.
She noted that the president’s anti-war stance was instrumental to his victories in both the 2016 and 2024 elections.
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