President Donald Trump will decide within two weeks whether to authorize U.S. military strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, the White House said Thursday, as the conflict between Israel and Iran continued into its seventh day.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, speaking at a briefing, quoted the president directly: “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.”
According to Leavitt, the president’s decision will hinge on whether Iran agrees to reenter talks aimed at ending its nuclear weapons program. Trump, she emphasized, “has been very clear. Iran went for 60 days when he gave them that 60-day warning without coming to the table. On day 61, Israel took action against Iran.”
Trump met with his national security team Thursday, the third such meeting this week, to assess options. A senior U.S. official told reporters that Trump is considering military involvement only if it would decisively end Iran’s nuclear ambitions, avoid a long-term war, and prove operationally necessary.
Leavitt also said that Trump has been in indirect communication with Tehran through special envoy Steve Witkoff, who has kept open channels with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. She confirmed six rounds of direct and indirect talks have occurred, though details remain classified.
“Iran has never been closer to obtaining a nuclear weapon,” Leavitt said. “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 of that weapon, which would, of course, pose an existential threat not just to Israel, but to the United States and to the entire world.”
Leavitt reiterated that the administration’s goal is to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and to maintain regional stability. “Nobody should be surprised by the president’s position that Iran absolutely cannot obtain a nuclear weapon,” she said. “He has been unequivocally clear about this for decades.”
On Wednesday, Trump told reporters outside the White House, “I may do it. I may not do it. I mean, nobody knows what I’m going to do.”
President Trump on striking Iran: “I may do it. I may not do it.”
This is the ideal foreign policy. You may not like it, but this is what peak performance looks like.pic.twitter.com/v5F4jfNyoS
— Michael Knowles (@michaeljknowles) June 18, 2025
