President Donald Trump will decide within the next two weeks whether to pursue diplomatic engagement with Iran or escalate US involvement in the ongoing Middle East crisis, according to a statement delivered by the White House on Thursday.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt read a message from the President, stating: “Given the substantial likelihood of negotiations with Iran in the near future, I will make my decision about whether or not to proceed within the next two weeks.” The announcement follows increasing speculation over whether the United States will support Israeli strikes on Iranian targets.
The United States has so far withheld formal endorsement of the Israeli military operation, which began earlier this month with airstrikes targeting Iranian facilities. While Israel has justified its actions as a pre-emptive measure against Iranian missile capabilities, the US administration has opted for strategic ambiguity, leaving its own position deliberately undefined.
Leavitt confirmed that the core objectives of any future talks with Iran would include preventing uranium enrichment and blocking Iran’s path to acquiring nuclear weapons. “Our priority is to ensure Iran cannot enrich uranium or obtain a nuclear weapon,” she said.
The announcement comes against the backdrop of confidential diplomatic contacts between US and Iranian officials. As reported by EU Global News, Trump’s special envoy, Steven Witkoff, has held a series of phone conversations with Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi since the beginning of the Israeli air campaign. These communications are believed to have focused on de-escalation and exploring the potential for direct talks.
Neither Washington nor Tehran has officially confirmed the nature of these discussions. However, the timing suggests that both sides are exploring diplomatic options in parallel with military developments.
The President’s two-week window is seen as an effort to buy time while evaluating the viability of a negotiated outcome. It also allows space for consultation with regional allies and NATO partners amid concerns that a wider conflict could destabilise the region.
Asked whether the United States might back further Israeli military action, Leavitt declined to give a definitive answer. “We are not taking any potential action off the table,” she said, adding that the President is monitoring developments closely and will respond accordingly.
The Iranian government continues to maintain that its nuclear activities are peaceful. Nonetheless, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has expressed concern about increased levels of uranium enrichment detected at Iranian sites over recent months.
The prospect of renewed talks raises questions about the future of the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the nuclear agreement abandoned by Trump during his first term. While the Biden administration had made attempts to revive the deal, the current administration has shown no interest in rejoining it in its original form.
Instead, the White House is reportedly considering a more limited agreement, possibly bilaterally negotiated, that would impose immediate restrictions on Iran’s nuclear programme while offering targeted sanctions relief. Any such initiative remains at a preliminary stage.
It remains unclear whether Iran is willing to return to the negotiating table on terms acceptable to Washington. Meanwhile, Israeli officials have continued to warn of further action against Iran unless its nuclear and missile activities are curbed.
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