Israel-Iran war: Donald Trump to make call on US strike ‘within two weeks'
US President Donald Trump has said he will hold off on any US intervention in the Israel-Iran conflict for another two weeks, in a bid to give the Islamic Republic one last chance of coming to a negotiation.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters on Thursday (local time) that she was delivering a direct message from Mr Trump, stressing that it should come as no surprise that the US President is firmly committed to preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear bomb.
Ms Leavitt quoted Mr Trump, saying: '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.'
Ms Leavitt made it clear that the US President's primary focus was not on pursuing regime change in Iran, but on preventing the country from acquiring a nuclear weapon.
She highlighted how close the Iranian regime was to achieving that capability, warning that it would not only threaten Israel's security but also pose a serious risk to the US and the global community.
'Iran has all that it needs to achieve a nuclear weapon,' she 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.'
Ms Leavitt described the situation as an 'existential threat, not just to Israel, but to the United States and to the entire world.'
'And that is something that the entire world, including countries like Russia, is in agreement with; that Iran should not and cannot obtain a nuclear weapon.'
On Wednesday, Mr Trump said nobody knew what he would do. A day earlier, he mused on social media about killing Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, then demanded Iran's unconditional surrender.
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