Trump To Decide ‘In Two Weeks’ Whether US Will Directly Attack Iran

Friday June 20, 2025|

By Idorenyin UMOREN
Security Evaluator

President Donald Trump said Thursday, June 19, he will decide within two weeks whether to involve U.S. forces in the Israel-Iran conflict, citing a “substantial chance” for renewed nuclear talks. The White House said he is weighing strikes on Iran’s fortified Fordo uranium site.

According to the BBC reports, in a White House press briefing, Press secretary Karoline Leavitt delivered a message directly from Trump:

“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.”

Earlier, Iran’s deputy foreign minister told the BBC it would cause “hell” in the region if the US got involved, adding: “This is not America’s war.”

The news comes 24 hours after Trump said he had not made up his mind on joining the conflict.

Asked what the message was for “everyday Trump supporters” who have concerns about US involvement, Leavitt said to “trust in President Trump”.

She added that the president’s “top priority” is ensuring that Iran does not successfully construct a nuclear weapon.

The press secretary has so far repeatedly declined to discuss “hypotheticals”, including on whether Iranian officials could come to the White House, or whether Trump would seek approval from Congress over any US involvement.

Trump and his administration have sought to maintain an air of strategic ambiguity – not revealing much publicly about their thinking or potential courses of action.

“I may do it,” he told reporters on Wednesday. “I may not do it.”

The administration has maintained it believes that Iran has “never been closer” to successfully building a nuclear weapon.

Trump has dismissed intelligence assessments – including some given by Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard in Congress earlier this year – that Iran was not planning to do so.

Speculation mounted about Trump’s intentions on Wednesday after Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei rejected his demand for surrender.

The BBC’s US partner CBS reported that Trump had approved plans to attack Iran, but had not made a final decision on whether to go ahead.

The US president was holding off in case Iran agreed to abandon its nuclear programme, an intelligence source said.

On Thursday Trump responded on Truth Social, saying the Wall Street Journal, where the reports first appeared, had “no idea what my thoughts are concerning Iran”. He did not address whether plans had been approved.

The president is reportedly considering strikes on the Iranian nuclear site Fordo, a subterranean uranium enrichment facility.