Trump to decide on US action in Israel-Iran conflict within two weeks, White House says
WASHINGTON: The White House said on Thursday that President Donald Trump will make a decision on whether the U.S. will get involved in the Israel-Iran conflict in the next two weeks.
Israel attacks Iran's only operating nuclear power plant
Citing 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.'
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Listen to article An unexpected and emergent huddle between President Donald Trump and Field Marshal Gen Asim Munir has laid a renewed roadmap of cooperation on strategic issues. The interaction – the first of its kind wherein Pakistan's serving military chief met a sitting US president and that too without political aides – summarises the indispensability of Pakistan's geopolitical importance and the role that the security forces can play in counterterrorism efforts in the region along with the US. The audience also brought to the fore the indispensability of Islamabad for Washington as it navigates its policies in Afghanistan and the necessity of sharing notes as Iran and Israel are locked in a conflagration that threatens world peace and security. While minutes of the get-together remain elusive and little is known as to what literally transpired on Iran and Israel, as well as the format to handle the soaring terrorism in Afghanistan, the fact that Secretary of State Marco Rubio, US Special Representative for Mideast Steve Witkoff and Pakistan's NSA and ISI chief Lt Gen Asim Malik were in session makes it comprehensive enough to assume that some constructive parleys were held, meant to scale down the volatility through diplomacy, and make use of influence Pakistan can assert over Tehran and the Muslim world. The summit reportedly arranged through ''unorthodox efforts" also came as an apt opportunity to debrief each other over the four-day duel that Pakistan fought with India, and the promising mediatory role of Trump in pulling back the nuclear rivals from the brink. Pakistan's military authorities, in a presser, also said that avenues for expanding trade and big-ticket ventures such as mines and minerals, crypto-currency and emerging technologies also figured in the meeting. The debut audience, nonetheless, has also flagged hopes that Trump would have shared his views on furthering democracy and rule of law in Pakistan, and brokering a reconciliation of sorts for a win-win people-centric bilateralism.
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It is said that Iran moved significantly ahead of its below-5 per cent limit on enrichment under the Agreement and held a significantly higher value of stockpiled enriched uranium than stipulated. In 2023 it was reported that Iran had enriched up to and over 83 per cent level. It was barely short of the magical 90 per cent mark to turn into a weapon. Trump in his second term, aware of the leeway the US exit had afforded Iran, sought an immediate renegotiation of the deal to rein Iran in. Implicitly he may have had in mind to reinforce his credentials of a deal and a peacemaker before the Alfred Nobel Committee. Israel did not seem to agree nor did some from within Trump's team. Donald Trump's was the stated position. More likely it left space for its partner, Israel, to eliminate or at the least significantly degrade Iran's nuclear programme as a living and present danger to Israel's long-term health and security. Iran had/has two major nuclear enrichment facilities, one at Natanz, that Israel struck with some effect in the ongoing war with Iran, and at Fordow near Qom, which is far more sophisticated and secure where enrichment levels are suspected to have been breached. When Iran was reluctant to enter negotiations, Trump declared a sixty-day window for Iran to agree to a deal proposed by the US, else the cost to Iran would be heavy and unbearable in military terms. Five rounds down and sixth on the anvil when it was more than likely that Iran was coming around to agree on most terms, Israel attacked Iran. It was the sixty-first day from the day Trump had announced the window of opportunity. Coincidence? Or a well deliberated execution? I don't think it needs much thought. What has followed since June 13 has been a conflagration ready to envelop the whole region unless handled with care. Both sides rain missiles on each other and wreak untold pain and misery. 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