Trump Will Decide Whether To Strike Or Negotiate With Iran Soon (Live Updates)

President Donald Trump will decide whether to strike or negotiate with Iran within the next two weeks, according to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, who said there is a 'substantial chance' of negotiations with Iran as the conflict between the country and Israel continues to intensify.
Smokes raises from a building of the Soroka hospital complex in Be'er Sheva, Israel after it was hit ... More by a missile fired from Iran.
June 19, 1:35 p.m. ETLeavitt provided a statement on behalf of Trump to reporters, saying there is a 'substantial chance of negotiations that may or may not take place with Iran' soon and the president will make his decision 'on whether or not to go within the next two weeks.'
Leavitt also said Steve Witkoff, Trump's special envoy to the Middle East, is still in contact with Iranian officials.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Israeli news outlet Kan that Israel will strike 'all' of Iran's nuclear facilities but did not disclose a timeline of when the strikes will take place.
June 19, 12:16 p.m. ETIran issued a warning to any 'third party' involvement in its conflict with Israel, seemingly referencing the U.S. without directly mentioning it and threatening an 'immediate response,' according to CNN.
June 19, 6:45 a.m. ETTom Barrack, the U.S. Ambassador to Turkey and Special Envoy for Syria, warned the Iran-backed Lebanese militant group Hezbollah against joining the Israel-Iran conflict.
Hezbollah has criticized Israel's strikes on Iran and on Thursday it warned that the assassination threats against Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei 'are foolish and reckless, and will have disastrous consequences.'
Barrack, who is on an official visit to Beirut, addressed the militant group's threat, saying: 'I can say on behalf of President Trump, which he has been very clear in expressing as has Special Envoy Witkoff: that would be a very, very, very bad decision.'
June 19, 4 a.m. ETIranian state media claimed the main target of the missile attack which damaged a hospital in southern Israel was the 'vast command and intelligence base' of the Israeli military's C4i tech and communications unit and 'the campus of their military intelligence, located in the Gav-Yam technology park.'
The hospital which was struck appears to be located less than two miles away from the Gav-Yam technology park.
3:30 a.m. ETIsrael's Defense Minister Israel Katz said he and Netanyahu have ordered the country's military to 'intensify strikes against strategic targets' in Iran after the latest wave of missile attacks.
Katz accused the Iranian Supreme Leader of committing the 'gravest of war crimes' and said 'The cowardly Iranian dictator sits in the depths of the fortified bunker and fires aimed shots at hospitals and residential buildings in Israel.'
3 a.m. ETThe Soroka Medical Center, a hospital in the southern Israeli city of Be'er Sheva was struck by an Iranian missile which caused 'extensive damage' but no serious injuries, according to authorities in Israel.
The strike was the first time a hospital in Israel was struck by an Iranian missile since the conflict between the two countries began last week.
Overall 65 people were injured across Israel in the latest barrage of missile strikes launched by Iran.
June 18, 4:48 p.m. ETThe State Department is conducting the evacuations of nonessential diplomats, the Associated Press reported, noting diplomats were authorized to leave at the government's expense Wednesday (Forbes has reached out to the State Department for comment).
June 18, 2:45 p.m. ETSome embassy personnel were evacuated from Israel via U.S. military aircraft, according to CNN, which reported earlier Wednesday a full evacuation of the embassy was not ordered and diplomats and family members were not required to leave.
June 18, 10:39 a.m. ETThe Iranian Mission to the U.N. said 'no Iranian official has ever asked to grovel at the gates of the White House,' in a post on X responding to Trump's claim made minutes earlier that Iran had contacted his administration, writing 'the only thing more despicable than his lies is his cowardly threat to 'take out' Iran's Supreme Leader.'
June 18, 10:15 a.m.Trump said 'You don't seriously think I'm going to answer that question . . . I may do it, I may not do it, I mean nobody knows what I'm going to do,' when asked by a reporter at an unrelated White House event if the U.S. is moving closer to striking Iranian nuclear facilities.
Trump said the Iranians have reached out to him and he told them 'it's very late to be talking . . . there's a big difference between now and a week ago,' referring to Iran's refusal to accept a deal with the U.S. to prevent it from developing a nuclear weapon sooner.
In subsequent comments, Trump said 'we're not looking for a long-term war . . . I only want one thing: Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon,' while also elaborating on what he meant when he called for 'unconditional surrender' a day earlier: 'That means I've had it . . . I give up, no more. Then we go blow up all the nuclear stuff that's all over the place there.'
June 18, 7 a.m.According to a statement delivered via Iranian state media, the Supreme Leader said his country 'stands firm against an imposed war, just as it will stand firm against an imposed peace,' adding that Iran will 'not surrender to anyone in the face of imposition,' warning any U.S. involvement in the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict will undoubtedly lead to 'serious irreparable harm.'
The Iranian leader also addressed President Trump's comments on Tuesday calling for Iran's 'unconditional surrender,' saying those who know his country's history 'know that Iranians do not answer well to the language of threats.'
June 18, 3 a.m.Aerial attacks from both sides continued early on Wednesday as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office claimed Iran has launched more than 400 missiles and hundreds of drones since Friday.
June 17, 6:30 p.m.White House officials told multiple outlets Trump spoke with Netanyahu on Tuesday after a meeting with national security advisors, though the details of the conversation have not been publicly reported.
June 17, 6 p.m.Unnamed U.S. officials cited by Axios said Trump was seriously considering entering the conflict by launching strikes against Iran's nuclear facilities.
June 17, 12:19 p.m.Trump warned on Truth Social earlier Tuesday: 'We know exactly where the so-called 'Supreme Leader' is hiding,' referring to Khamenei, who is increasingly isolated after Israel assassinated several of his top generals, adding Khamenei is 'safe' and 'we are not going to take him out (kill!), at least not for now,' but said 'our patience is wearing thin.'
Tensions between Iran and Israel first erupted on Friday, when the Israel military carried out unilateral strikes against key nuclear facilities and killed several top Iranian generals and nuclear scientists. Netanyahu claimed Israel's attack was an act of self defense as the Iranian nuclear program posed 'a danger to Israel's very survival.' On Monday, Trump exited the G7 summit earlier than scheduled and flew back from Canada to Washington as tensions between Iran and Israel escalated, with the White House press secretary saying he left early 'because of what's going on in the Middle East.' Shortly before leaving the summit, Trump issued an ominous warning to residents of Tehran, Iran's capital, on Truth Social: 'Simply stated, IRAN CAN NOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON…Everyone should immediately evacuate Tehran!' At the time, Trump did not specify why he called for an evacuation of the city of 10 million people, but when asked later, Trump said: 'I want people to be safe…That's always possible something could happen. I just want people to be safe.' The president spoke to reporters on board Air Force One on his return to Washington and said he wanted something better than a ceasefire 'An end. A real end, not a ceasefire, an end,' and signaled that a only complete 'give up' by Iran would be acceptable.
In a earlier post Trump, said: 'We now have complete and total control of the skies over Iran...Iran had good sky trackers and other defensive equipment, and plenty of it, but it doesn't compare to American made, conceived, and manufactured stuff. Nobody does it better than the good ol' USA.' In a third post Tuesday morning, Trump called for an 'UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER!' Trump has also warned Iran against targeting U.S. personnel or assets, saying if that happens 'we'll come down so hard, it'd be gloves off...I think they know not to touch our troops.'
On Monday, Trump told reporters onboard Air Force One on the way back to the U.S. from the summit in Canada he wanted to see an end to Iran's nuclear program and said he's 'not too much in the mood to negotiate now.' Trump attacked French President Emmanuel Macron on Truth Social, describing him as 'publicity seeking' after he said Trump was flying out of the G7 summit early to work out a cease fire between Israel and Iran and 'then kick-start broader discussions.' Trump said Macron 'has no idea why I am now on my way to Washington, but it certainly has nothing to do with a Cease Fire,' and claimed it was something 'Much bigger than that.' Trump departed the G7 Summit early and returned to Washington on Monday night to 'attend to many important matters,' White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said.
Shortly before he left Canada, the president told reporters Iran 'want to make a deal, and as soon as I leave here, we're going to be doing something. But I have to leave here.' Fox News reported on Monday evening that Trump had asked his national security to be present in the Situation Room when he returns to the White House.
A U.S. official told reporters earlier on Monday Trump would not sign a draft statement of G7 leaders, which included a call for de-escalating the Israel-Iran conflict. The president eventually agreed to sign it after some changes were made to the statement's 'initial draft language,' according to the New York Times. The final statement notes: 'We, the leaders of the G7, reiterate our commitment to peace and stability in the Middle East.' The statement affirms Israel's 'right to defend itself,' describes Iran as the 'principal source of regional instability and terror,' and notes 'Iran can never have a nuclear weapon.' It also calls for a resolution of the ongoing crisis and 'a broader de-escalation of hostilities in the Middle East, including a cease fire in Gaza.'
In a post on X, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi signaled he was open to talks resuming talks with the U.S. if Israel's strikes on Iran were halted. 'If President Trump is genuine about diplomacy and interested in stopping this war, next steps are consequential. Israel must halt its aggression, and absent a total cessation of military aggression against us, our responses will continue. It takes one phone call from Washington to muzzle someone like Netanyahu. That may pave the way for a return to diplomacy,' he wrote. The post also attacked Netanyahu, calling him a 'war criminal.'
Lawmakers Make Bipartisan Push To Restrict Trump From Going To War With Iran (Forbes)
Iranian Missiles Cause 'Minor Damage' To US Embassy In Tel Aviv—Israel Targets Elite Quds Force HQ (Forbes)
Israel Attacks Iranian State TV During Live Broadcast (Forbes)

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Associated Press

22 minutes ago

• Associated Press

Layoff notices delivered to hundreds of Voice of America employees

Layoff notices were sent Friday to 639 employees of Voice of America and the U.S. agency that oversees it, effectively shutting down the outlet that has provided news to countries around the world since World War II. They included employees at VOA's Persian-language service who were suddenly called off administrative leave last week to broadcast reports to Iran following Israel's attack. Three journalists working for the Persian service on Friday, who left their office for a cigarette break, had their badges confiscated and weren't allowed back in, according to one fired employee. In total, some 1,400 people at Voice of America and the U.S. Agency for Global Media, or 85% of its workforce, have lost their jobs since March, said Kari Lake, Trump's senior advisor to the agency. She said it was part of a 'long overdue effort to dismantle a bloated, unaccountable bureaucracy.' 'For decades, American taxpayers have been forced to bankroll an agency that's been riddled with dysfunction, bias and waste,' Lake said in a news release. 'That ends now.' VOA began by broadcasting stories about American democracy to residents of Nazi Germany, and grew to deliver news around the world in dozens of languages, often in countries without a tradition of free press. But President Donald Trump has fought against the news media on several fronts, with the complaint that much of what they produce is biased against conservatives. That includes a proposal to shut off federal funding to PBS and NPR, which is currently before Congress. Most VOA employees have been on administrative leave since March 15, their broadcasts and social media posts mostly silenced. Three VOA employees who are fighting the administration's dismantling of VOA in court were among those receiving layoff notices on Friday. 'It spells the death of 83 years of independent journalism that upholds U.S. ideals of democracy and freedom around the world,' plaintiffs Jessica Jerreat, Kate Neeper and Patsy Widakuswara said in a statement. The Persian-language employee, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the ongoing legal case, was in the office Friday when colleagues were barred from reentry. The person was afraid to leave for the same reason — even though authorities said their work had been halted — until receiving a layoff notice. Steve Herman, VOA's chief national correspondent who was in the process of retiring to take a job at the University of Mississippi, called the layoffs an 'historic act of self-sabotage with the U.S. government completing the silencing of its most effective soft-power weapon.' It's not clear what, if anything, will replace Voice of America programming worldwide. The Trump-supporting One American News Network has offered to allow its signal to be used. Although plaintiffs in the lawsuit called on Congress to continue supporting Voice of America, Herman said that he is not optimistic that it will survive, even if a Democratic president and Congress take over. For one thing, every day it is off the air is another day for viewers and readers to get into another habit for obtaining news. 'I believe that the destruction is permanent,' Herman said, 'because we see no indication in the next fiscal year that Congress will rally to fund VOA.' By the time another administration takes power that is more sympathetic to the outlet, 'I fear that VOA will have become forgotten,' he said. ___ David Bauder writes about the intersection of media and entertainment for the AP. Follow him at and

Wall Street Journal

25 minutes ago

• Wall Street Journal

Israel Defends Attacks, Iran Asks for Help Before U.N. Security Council

Israel's ambassador to the U.N. lashed out at his Iranian counterpart during an United Nations Security Council meeting. Iran called on the Security Council to determine that Israel had committed a 'breach of peace.' Photo: Angela Weiss/AFP/Getty Images/Sarah Yenesel/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

CBS News

27 minutes ago

• CBS News

Diplomacy's "last shot" to de-escalate Israel-Iran conflict

Diplomacy will have a "last shot" within the next two weeks to bring the Israel-Iran conflict to an end, according to one American and one European diplomatic official, a window set by President Trump this week as he decides whether to involve the U.S. in Israel's offensive against Iran. Those efforts were underway Friday as Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met with European foreign ministers in Geneva in the face of Israel's ongoing bombing campaign and the U.S. military buildup in the region. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul and the top European Union diplomat, Kaja Kallas, attended the Geneva meeting with Aragchi. Lammy had met with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff at the White House Thursday. The Geneva meeting lasted nearly four hours — twice as long as scheduled — and afterward, Barrot indicated there would be further talks and told reporters "the problem of Iran's nuclear program cannot be solved by military means" alone. Lammy said, "We were clear: Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon." Araghchi, too, spoke after the meeting and said Iran supported continuing discussions. "Iran is ready to consider diplomacy once again," he said, adding, "I stress that Iran's defense capabilities are not negotiable. (But) I express our readiness to meet again in the near future." Supreme Leader of Iran Ali Khamenei remains the ultimate decision-maker, and it's not yet clear whether the ongoing Israeli airstrikes and impending threat of U.S. involvement will move him any closer toward a diplomatic off ramp than when Witkoff last offered a proposal a few weeks ago. The U.S. offer, which is still on the table, would have allowed Iran to have a civilian nuclear program if it agreed not to enrich uranium on its soil. Instead, Iran would be able to purchase enriched fuel from other countries. One suggestion involved an Omani idea to establish a regional consortium that would allow enrichment for civilian purposes under monitoring by the IAEA and U.S. Khamenei, 86, is thought to still be battling cancer and is in hiding from the Israeli strikes. He has not responded to overtures from multiple countries seeking to help de-escalate the conflict. It's not entirely clear how functional the Iranian government is at this moment. Internet connectivity and international calls into Iran are difficult to complete, according to sources in the region. Cyber attacks have paralyzed the banking system, and as of Thursday, multiple diplomats acknowledged factors like these have made it more difficult to arrange in-person talks with Aragchi. The ongoing Israeli assault may also make Khamenei fearful about communicating, given concerns about avoiding signals intelligence intercepts that could be used to target him, one diplomatic source suggested. Anything Aragchi discusses with the West will ultimately need the supreme leader's approval, and U.S. expectations for a breakthrough during this meeting are low. But it's a start. It remains to be seen if the conversation in Geneva produced some indication of whether Iran is still open to direct talks with the U.S. — not just the European nations — which is what Witkoff has also been trying to initiate through his own personal outreach, one U.S. official said. Turkey and Oman, as well as European countries including Italy and Norway, have offered to host direct or indirect talks between the U.S. and Iran, if Tehran were to choose that path, according to two European diplomatic sources. The Italian foreign minister said Rubio told him Thursday that the U.S. is ready for direct negotiations with Iranian counterparts, and a French diplomat also said Rubio had also conveyed the same message to Barrot. The French foreign minister and secretary of state are expected to speak again after the Geneva consultations. Mr. Trump has expressed frustration in recent weeks that although Iran has come to the negotiating table, its leaders have shown no willingness to actually negotiate. Iran offered no response for two weeks to Witkoff's most recent U.S. proposal and neither declined nor accepted its terms, a U.S. official familiar with the efforts told CBS News. Instead, Iranian leaders issued press statements, but negotiators did not directly engage on the specifics or discuss the terms of the offer. That lack of substantive engagement raised doubts from the Trump administration about whether Iran was engaging in good-faith negotiations or simply running out the clock. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has openly questioned whether Iran's leaders were playing with Mr. Trump and used that uncertainty to justify his unilateral decision to launch military strikes. Multiple U.S. and foreign diplomats indicated that Mr. Trump did not bless the strikes or explicitly tell Netanyahu he should proceed with them. Diplomatic sources acknowledge that Iran's leaders may also be wondering about the degree of coordination between the U.S. and Israel and may also be uncertain about whether the U.S.-initiated diplomacy was a ruse to justify the use of military force that Netanyahu has long advocated. But one U.S. official maintained that Mr. Trump's interest in diplomacy was genuine, as is his aversion to drawing the U.S. military into a Mideast war — especially without a clear sense of what would come next, should the Iranian regime collapse. U.S. and European diplomats confirmed that there are confidential conversations about who would lead Iran next, whether the nuclear sites and material can be secured, and the potential environmental and health fallout for regional allies from military strikes on nuclear facilities. In the meantime, the president still has the option of choosing to use military force including the potential of using for the first time in history the MOP or massive ordnance penetrator, a 30,000-pound bunker-buster bomb, to destroy the underground nuclear facilities at Fordo. In theory, Mr. Trump maintains the ability to launch a strike while he's out of town at his golf resort in Bedminster, New Jersey, on Friday and Saturday, sources said. A secure suite is set up before he arrives at any out-of-town location, and he also has access to secure communications that would allow him to give an order while en route. While at his Florida golf resort, Mar-a-Lago, he ordered a strike on Syria in 2017, and on an Iranian general in 2020. In the meantime, the U.S. intelligence assessment remains that Khamenei has not ordered the resumption of the nuclear weapons program that Iran suspended in 2003. But Iran has accumulated a quantity of enriched nuclear fuel that could potentially be matched with an advanced missile or a more rudimentary weapon in short order if the supreme leader ordered it. It remains an open question whether bombing Fordo would trigger Iran's leaders to sprint toward creating a bomb or end the program altogether. and contributed to this report.