NEW YORK -- US President Donald Trump will make a decision on whether he will order a strike against Iran in the next two weeks, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said at a briefing on Thursday, June 19, 2025.
“Based on the fact that there’s a substantial chance of negotiation that may or may not take place with Iran in the near future, I will make my decision whether or not to go in the next two weeks,” Leavitt read a statement from Trump who responded to speculation about whether the United States would directly get involved in the conflict between Iran and Israel.
Iran must agree to no enrichment of uranium and Tehran must not be able to achieve a nuclear weapon as part of any diplomatic agreement, Leavitt said.
Leavitt said US–Iran correspondence “has continued” amid ongoing negotiations, confirming earlier reports that US envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi held multiple phone calls since Israel began striking Iran on June 13.
Talks briefly touched on a US proposal for a regional uranium enrichment consortium outside Iran, which Tehran has so far rejected, according to diplomats quoted by local media.
Araghchi told Witkoff that Tehran “could show flexibility” on the nuclear issue if the US pressured Israel to halt its offensive, adding Iran would not return to talks unless attacks ceased, a regional diplomat told local media.
Trump approved attack plans on Iran on Tuesday night, but held off making a final decision in case Iran agrees to abandon its nuclear program, media reported.
Trump has met with his national security team in the Situation Room each day since Tuesday. / XINHUA