Trump weighs military action on Iran, to make a decision within two weeks, says White House
President Trump announced he will decide within two weeks whether to take military action against Iran, amid speculation of potential U.S. involvement in Israeli operations. While hinting at possible negotiations with Tehran, Trump emphasized the need for Iran's "unconditional surrender" regarding its nuclear program. U.S.
Tired of too many ads?
Remove Ads
Tired of too many ads?
Remove Ads
'Nothing is too late': Trump
'Nobody knows what I want to do'
The White House said on Thursday that US President Donald Trump will make a decision within two weeks on whether to launch military action against Iran, suggesting that a diplomatic route may still be possible."Based on the fact that there is a substance chance of negotiations that may or may not take place with Iran in the near future, I will make my decision of weather or not to go clear within the next two week," said White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, quoting Trump.On Wednesday, amid growing speculation that the U.S. could join Israeli military operations on Iranian soil, Trump left clear that no decision had been made.Speaking from the South Lawn of the White House, he told reporters: 'I may do it, I may not do it. I mean, nobody knows what I'm going to do.'Trump claimed Iran has suggested sending officials to the White House to discuss their nuclear program: 'They've suggested that they come to the White House. That's, you know, courageous, but it's, like, not easy for them to do.'Despite the delay, Trump stressed: 'Nothing is too late.'Trump said he has previously favored diplomacy as a means to curb Iran's nuclear ambitions, recalling his 2018 withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal. Yet since Israel began airstrikes against Iran—six days prior—Trump's tone has shifted toward supporting Israeli military actions, while warning of broader escalation.He accused Tehran of dragging its feet in negotiations: 'Why didn't you negotiate with me two weeks ago? You could have done fine. You would have had a country."Even as he stood beside a newly installed flagpole on the South Lawn, Trump appeared relaxed but unmistakably serious. Explosions were reported over Tehran on Wednesday afternoon, with AFP confirming renewed Israeli airstrikes.Despite mounting tensions, Trump did not commit to any immediate U.S. military action. When pressed, he responded: 'I can't say that. Nobody knows what I want to do.'He dressed his stance in stark terms, saying that Iran must face 'unconditional surrender' and calling its nuclear program duplicitous: 'They have bad intentions.' At the same time, he insisted he had sympathy for the Iranian people: 'I like the Iranians. I know many. They're great people.'In parallel with Trump's remarks, U.S. military assets—ships and aircraft carriers—have been repositioning closer to the Middle East, signaling readiness even as policy remains deliberately vague. Trump described the administration's stance as geared toward 'something much bigger than a ceasefire.'He also revealed, 'Told [Israel's Prime Minister] Netanyahu: keep going,' but emphasized that this did not signal a new U.S. military role in Israel's operations.Trump warned that 'next week will be big, maybe less than a week,' signaling that the world could see a major U.S. policy shift—either toward war or continued negotiations—within days.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indian Express
19 minutes ago
- Indian Express
As US eyes its airspace, Pakistan confirms: Trump, Munir had discussion on Iran
As anticipated by Delhi, US President Donald Trump and Pakistan Army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir had a 'detailed exchange of views' on the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict when they met over lunch at the White House. In a statement Thursday, the Pakistan Army said, 'A detailed exchange of views also took place on the prevailing tensions between Iran and Israel, with both leaders emphasising the importance of resolution of the conflict.' Asked if Iran was discussed with Munir, Trump said: 'Well, they know Iran very well, better than most, and they are not happy about anything.' 'It's not that they are bad with Israel. They know them both, actually, but they probably, maybe they know Iran better, but they see what's going on, and he agreed with me,' he said. In Islamabad, the Pakistan Army said the US President showed 'keen interest' in developing a mutually beneficial trade relationship with Pakistan on the basis of long-term strategic interests. According to Delhi's assessment, the US is enlisting Rawalpindi's support since it would want to use Pakistan's airspace, air bases and other infrastructure for launching any military offensive on Iran. This was the key focus of Trump's lunch with Munir which, according to sources, lasted for about two hours, and not one hour as scheduled. According to news agency Reuters, White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said Trump was hosting Munir after he called for the US President to be nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for preventing a nuclear war between India and Pakistan. But sources indicated that the meeting was not arranged through routine diplomatic channels, and was the outcome of 'unorthodox efforts' by a group of advisers, businessmen and other influential figures. Sources said stronger counter-terrorism cooperation, engagement with crypto-linked influence networks, and targeted lobbying via Republican-aligned firms in Washington helped Pakistan secure the meeting. A source, who has been tracking the US-Pakistan relationship over decades, said, 'It is not rare but absolutely unprecedented for a military chief to be invited by a POTUS (President of the United States) for a meeting, let alone a meeting over a meal. All Pakistan military chiefs who visited the US and other capitals did so as Presidents.' In the past, US President George W Bush met Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf in 2004. Munir's US visit began last Sunday and was his second since he took over as military chief in 2022. Trump was effusive about both Munir and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He said he was 'honoured' to meet Munir and that they discussed the situation arising out of the Iran-Israel conflict. 'The reason I had him here, I want to thank him for not going into the war, ending the war (with India). And I want to thank, as you know, Prime Minister Modi,' he said. 'We are working on a trade deal with India. We are working on a trade deal with Pakistan.' Trump also recalled his meeting with Modi at the White House in February. He said he was 'happy' that 'two very smart people decided not to keep going with that war'. 'That could have been a nuclear war. Those are two nuclear powers, big ones, big, big nuclear powers, and they decided (to end the conflict),' he said. The US President was accompanied at the meeting by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and US Special Representative for the Middle East Steve Witkoff. Munir was joined by Pakistan National Security Advisor Lt Gen Asim Malik, who is also head of the spy agency ISI. Earlier, in his phone conversation with Trump, Modi had told the President that India and Pakistan halted their military actions following direct talks between the two militaries without any mediation by the US. The Pakistan Army, in its statement on the Trump-Munir meeting, said, the 'Chief of Army Staff conveyed the deep appreciation of the government and people of Pakistan for President Trump's constructive and result-oriented role in facilitating a ceasefire between Pakistan and India in the recent regional crisis. The COAS acknowledged President Trump's statesmanship and his ability to comprehend and address the multifaceted challenges faced by the global community.' 'President Trump, in turn, lauded Pakistan's ongoing efforts for regional peace and stability, and appreciated the robust counter-terrorism cooperation between the two states. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to continued collaboration in the field of counter-terrorism,' it said. 'Discussions also encompassed avenues for expanding bilateral cooperation in multiple domains including trade, economic development, mines and minerals, artificial intelligence, energy, cryptocurrency, and emerging technologies. President Trump expressed keen interest in forging a mutually beneficial trade partnership with Pakistan based on long-term strategic convergence and shared interests,' it said. 'In a gesture reflecting the warmth of bilateral ties, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir extended an invitation to President Trump, on behalf of the Government of Pakistan, to undertake an official visit to Pakistan at a mutually convenient date'
India Today
30 minutes ago
- India Today
Khamenei can no longer be allowed to exist, says Israeli defence minister
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz issued a stark threat against Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, after Iranian missiles struck a major hospital in southern Israel, leaving more than 240 wounded and sparking a fierce wave of retaliatory airstrikes against Iran's nuclear just hours after the Soroka Medical Centre in Beersheba was rocked by a missile hit, Katz pointed the finger at Iran's highest authority. "The military has been instructed and knows that, in order to achieve all of its goals, this man absolutely should not continue to exist," Katz said, referring to missile strike caused chaos at Soroka, one of Israel's largest hospitals, which was treating around 700 patients at the time. Doctors at Soroka said the missile hit moments after sirens went off, with the explosion shaking even reinforced safe rooms. The worst of the damage was concentrated in an older surgery wing, now scorched and partially collapsed, reports Reuters. While rescue workers wheeled patients through smoke-filled corridors, Israeli fighter jets launched a new wave of strikes targeting sites linked to Iran's nuclear programme. According to the Israeli military, Iran has fired 450 missiles and 1,000 drones since the conflict escalated, with most intercepted by Israel's defence Washington, President Donald Trump said he would take up to two weeks to decide whether to join Israel's campaign against Iran, leaving the door open to a diplomatic solution. The White House confirmed a flurry of diplomatic activity, including a planned meeting in Geneva between Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and European supreme leader on Wednesday rejected US calls for surrender and warned that any American military involvement by the Americans would cause "irreparable damage to them."With inputs from APTune InMust Watch
India Today
30 minutes ago
- India Today
Netanyahu says no one is immune, hints Iran's Khamenei could be a target
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday said that "no one is immune" to Israeli attacks, indicating that Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei may also be "a target".He made the comments in response to a question during a tour of Soroka Medical Centre in the southern Israeli city of Beersheba, which came under Iranian missile attacks on Thursday gave instructions that no one is immune," he said. "I prefer not to deal with headlines and to let actions speak for themselves,' he added. 'During a war, words have to be chosen with care, and actions with precision,' Netanyahu said, adding, 'All the options are open. It's best not to speak about this in the press'.The prime minister reiterated that Israel's operation in Iran was against its nuclear programme and missile stockpile to save his country, unlike 'theirs that targets innocent civilians'."They fire at hospitals where people are unable to escape danger,' Netanyahu said."This is the difference between a functioning democracy that adheres to the law and these murderers," he Defence Minister Israel Katz earlier publicly threatened Khamenei."Preventing the existence of Khamenei, the modern Hitler – is one of the goals of the operation," Katz said during a tour of an impacted site in the city of dictator like Khamenei, who leads Iran and has inscribed the destruction of Israel on his flag – he cannot continue to exist,' the defence minister said, adding that Iran's spiritual leader "has great ideological influence, he uses all his resources for the cause, and today we see proof that he is giving orders to shoot at hospitals".On the US call regarding its direct participation in the Israeli operation to foil Iran's nuclear programme, Netanyahu said that it 'is a decision for President Donald Trump to make'.'He will do what is good for America, and I will do what's good for Israel,' the Israeli prime minister said, adding that the US president 'knows the game'.Stressing that Israel will carry out the entire mission by itself, if needed, he said, 'At the end of this operation, there will be no nuclear threat on Israel, and there won't be a ballistic threat.'There has been speculation that Trump will decide to join Israel's offensive against 147 people are said to have been brought to various hospitals across the country after Iran launched a fresh barrage of ballistic missiles impacting places like Ramat Gan, Holon and has fired over four hundred ballistic missiles and more than a thousand drones over Israel since the Jewish state launched Operation Rising Lion on Friday, with the twin goals of eliminating the nuclear and missile threat from the Islamic due to the ongoing conflict, wartime restrictions on the reporting of the events have been restrictions included news related to operations, targets for attack, specific operations for protection and security, damage to strategic facilities and military bases, and damage to operational capabilities and/or the capability to provide essential Watch
