Iran Israel latest: When will Donald Trump decide whether to strike Islamic Republic in middle-east? White House reveals timeline
It remained unclear whether US President Donald Trump would task American forces to join Israel's sweeping campaign against Iran's military and nuclear program.
Tired of too many ads?
Remove Ads
Tired of too many ads?
Remove Ads
FAQs
Tired of too many ads?
Remove Ads
President Donald Trump will decide within the next two weeks whether to strike Iran, the White House said on Thursday, saying Trump still sees a 'substantial' chance that negotiations can achieve the US and Israeli demands on Iran's nuclear program. Trump's announcement, relayed by press secretary Karoline Leavitt, puts an extended timeline on the president's warnings to Iran to immediately shut down its enrichment operations and any other potential for producing nuclear weapons, as per AP report.'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,' Leavitt quoted Trump as saying, AP reported.While it remained unclear whether US President Donald Trump would task American forces to join Israel's sweeping campaign against Iran's military and nuclear program, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he trusted that Trump would 'do what's best for America.'US officials said earlier this week that Trump had vetoed an Israeli plan to kill Iran Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Trump later said there were no plans to kill him, 'at least not for now.'The US has been weighing whether to join Israel's attack by striking Iran's well-defended Fordo uranium enrichment facility, which is buried under a mountain and widely considered to be out of reach of all but America's 'bunker-buster' bombs.Trump has said he wants something 'much bigger' than a ceasefire and has not ruled out the U.S. joining in Israel's campaign.The conflict began last Friday with a surprise wave of Israeli airstrikes targeting nuclear and military sites, senior officers and nuclear scientists. At least 639 people, including 263 civilians, have been killed in Iran and more than 1,300 wounded, according to a Washington-based Iranian human rights group.Iran has retaliated by firing hundreds of missiles and drones, killing at least 24 people in Israel and wounding 240 people.Iran has long maintained its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes. However, in addition to having a nuclear power plant, it also enriches uranium up to 60 per cent, a short, technical step away from weapons-grade levels of 90 per cent. Iran is the only non-nuclear-weapon state to enrich at that level, AP reported.Israel is widely believed to have nuclear weapons — making it the only such state in the Middle East — but does not acknowledge having such arms, as per the AP report.A1. Iran has uranium enrichment site at Natanz, centrifuge workshops around Tehran, and a nuclear site in Isfahan. Fordow is the deepest nuclear facility. (90 meter). Arak heavy water reactor, some 250 kilometers (155 miles) southwest of Tehran, was reportedly used to produce plutonium.A2. Israel is widely believed to have nuclear weapons — making it the only such state in the Middle East — but does not acknowledge having such arms, as per the AP report.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indian Express
23 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Donald Trump to decide in two weeks whether US will strike Iran: White House
US President Donald Trump said Thursday he will decide within two weeks whether to authorise a direct US military strike on Iran, as the conflict between Tehran and Israel intensifies, according to The Associated Press (AP). His statement, read by White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, pointed to a 'substantial chance' for renewed diplomacy over Iran's nuclear program. Quoting Trump, Leavitt announced: 'Based on the fact that there is 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, within the next two weeks.' Trump is reportedly considering targeting Iran's fortified Fordo uranium enrichment site — a facility buried deep underground and considered accessible only to US 'bunker-buster' bombs. These bombs are designed to penetrate up to 200 feet of earth or concrete before detonating. Speaking to reporters outside the White House on Wednesday, Trump declined to confirm whether he had decided to join Israel's campaign targeting Iran's nuclear enrichment program. 'I may do it. I may not do it. I mean, nobody knows what I'm going to do.' He added that he has 'ideas as to what to do' and that he prefers to make the 'final decision one second before it's due.' The ongoing conflict began with a surprise wave of Israeli airstrikes targeting Iranian nuclear and military installations. According to a Washington-based Iranian human rights group, at least 639 people — including 263 civilians — have been killed in Iran, with more than 1,300 injured. Meanwhile, Israeli officials estimate that Iran has launched roughly 450 missiles and 1,000 drones. Most have been intercepted, but at least 24 Israelis have died and hundreds more have been injured. Tensions escalated sharply after Iranian missiles struck a major hospital in southern Israel and hit residential buildings near Tel Aviv, injuring at least 240 people, as per AP. Israel's Defense Minister Israel Katz directly threatened Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, saying, 'In order to achieve all of its goals, this man absolutely should not continue to exist.' Israeli fighter jets, too, carried out renewed strikes on Iran's nuclear infrastructure. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, speaking from the rubble outside Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba, said he trusted Trump to 'do what's best for America,' adding, 'they're already helping a lot.' Meanwhile, Soroka Medical Center became one of several hospitals that had already activated emergency protocols amid the escalating threat. At the time of the missile strike, the hospital was treating around 700 patients. At least 80 patients and medical workers were wounded, though most injuries were minor due to pre-emptive evacuations to underground wards. Israel's Home Front Command said one Iranian ballistic missile appeared to be loaded with cluster munitions — a type of weapon that disperses small bomblets over a wide area. Iranian officials denied targeting the hospital, claiming instead they struck a nearby military tech unit. Israel confirmed its air force targeted Iran's Arak heavy water reactor, a facility once central to Iran's ability to produce plutonium — a material usable in nuclear weapons. Iranian state TV said the site had been evacuated and posed 'no radiation danger.' The Arak reactor had been partially redesigned under the 2015 nuclear deal, but work stalled after the US withdrew from the agreement in 2018. Israeli forces said their strike aimed to prevent the facility from being restored to weapons-grade capability. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has acknowledged it no longer has full oversight of Iran's heavy water production due to recent restrictions. (With inputs from AP)
United News of India
27 minutes ago
- United News of India
Iran's IRGC appoints new intelligence chief
Tehran, June 20 (UNI) Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) on Thursday appointed Majid Khademi as the new head of its intelligence organisation, the semi-official Fars News Agency reported. The appointment was made by IRGC's Chief Commander Mohammad Pakpour only days after Mohammad Kazemi, the organisation's former chief, and his deputy Hassan Mohaghegh were killed in Israeli airstrikes on the Iranian capital Tehran on Sunday. Prior to his appointment to the new post, Khademi served as the head of the IRGC's Intelligence Protection Organisation. On June 13, Israel launched airstrikes on Tehran and several other areas in the country, killing a number of senior military commanders, nuclear scientists, and hundreds of civilians. The strikes have continued across various parts of Iran. In response, Iran has carried out missile and drone attacks on multiple targets in Israel, causing casualties and significant damage. UNI XINHUA ARN
News18
30 minutes ago
- News18
'Regime Collapsing': Reza Pahlavi Says Talks Over Post-Islamic Republic Iran Underway
Last Updated: Exiled Iranian crown prince Reza Pahlavi claims the Islamic Republic of Iran's command structures are rapidly collapsing, suggesting a significant political change is imminent. Amid the ongoing Middle East crisis involving Iran, exiled Iranian crown prince Reza Pahlavi has indicated towards a significant change in the political landscape of Iran in near future. Referring to the Islamic Republic of Iran, Pahlavi said '…the regime's command and control structures are collapsing at a rapid pace." Describing Tehran as a crumbling regime on the brink of collapse, he stated that discussions have begun about a future Iran without the Islamic Republic. Sources inside Iran say that the regime's command and control structures are collapsing at a rapid pace. Meanwhile, the international community is beginning to realize that the Islamic Republic has no future. Our discussions about a post-Islamic Republic Iran have begun. — Reza Pahlavi (@PahlaviReza) June 19, 2025 First Published:
