Trump gives Iran two-week deadline to surrender and reveals exactly how close Ayatollah is to a nuclear bomb
President Donald Trump will decide whether or not to strike Iran in the next two weeks, press secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Thursday.
She said the president was still holding out on a diplomatic solution, though wouldn't provide details about what U.S.-Iran talks would look like.
Leavitt read a direct statement to reporters from Trump at the top of her briefing.
'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,' the Trump statement read.
Leavitt also said she welcomed a question when a journalist asked if Iran was a few weeks away from 'obtaining enough enriched uranium to start building a weapon' or 'completing production of a weapon.'
'Let's be very clear, Iran has all that it needs to achieve a nuclear weapon,' Leavitt answered. 'All they need is a decision from the Supreme Leader to do that.'
'And it would take a couple of weeks to complete the production of that weapon, which would, of course, pose an existential threat not just to Israel but to the United States and to the entire world,' Leavitt continued.
The world has been awaiting Trump's decision on whether he'll join Israel's current war with Iran, which has now stretched a week.
In particular, Israel has wanted U.S. assistance with bombing Iran's Fordow nuclear site.
But the idea of military action against Iran has gotten Trump in trouble some some factions of the MAGA right, after he promised as a candidate to get the United States out of 'forever wars' and pledged 'World War III' wouldn't occur under his watch.
'Trust in President Trump,' she said, when asked near the top of the briefing what the president's message is to everyday Trump supporters, who might be skeptical of any military action.
She said the U.S. was now looking for a deal with Iran that would include 'no enrichment of uranium' and reiterated that Iran wouldn't be allowed to have a nuclear weapon.
'With respect to Iran, nobody should be surprised by the president's position that Iran absolutely cannot obtain a nuclear weapon,' Leavitt also said.
Leavitt also said the previous deal on the table through Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff was 'both realistic and acceptable.'
She wouldn't give much more detail on when diplomatic talks might happen.
'Out of respect for the ongoing discussions and negotiations, I am not going to get into the details of them. We've provided you confirmation,' Leavitt said.
Witkoff was spotted by CNN alongside other Trump advisers at the White House on Thursday, with Leavitt suggesting he wouldn't be heading to Geneva, where the Europeans are scheduled to have talks with an Iranian delegation on Friday.
Oman had previously hosted U.S.-Iran talks and three Iranian planes had been spotted landing in the capital of Muscat on Wednesday.
'As for correspondence between the United States and the Iranians, I can confirm that correspondence has continued. As you know, we were engaged with six rounds of negotiations with them in both indirect and direct ways,' Leavitt answered.
Trump had also pitched the Iranians coming to see him at the White House.
One reporter pointed out that if an Iranian delegation could get as far as Geneva, could they be coming to Washington as well?
'I am not going to get into hypotheticals,' Leavitt answered. 'But as you heard from the president yesterday, they have expressed interest in doing that.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Herald Scotland
8 minutes ago
- The Herald Scotland
Los Angeles Dodgers denied ICE access to Dodger Stadium parking lots
In the ensuing hours, a small group of protestors arrived at Gate E, chanting at ICE officers outside the stadium gates. Eventually, Los Angeles Police Department officers arrived. "This morning, ICE agents came to Dodger Stadium and requested permission to access the parking lots. They were denied entry to the grounds by the organization," the Dodgers said in a statement. "Tonight's game will be played as scheduled." A message with ICE's media relations office was not immediately returned. The Dodgers are scheduled to play the San Diego Padres at 7:10 PDT, with a celebrity softball game hosted by All-Star Mookie Betts preceding the game at 5:30. A crowd of more than 50,000 is expected for the game. WORST TEAM EVER? Rockies settling in after historically bad start The apparently unscheduled ICE arrival is the latest twist in a saga pitting President Donald Trump's desire to deport large amounts of undocumented persons against cities aiming to salvage due process for its residents. Los Angeles is one of the cities specifically targeted by Trump, with nearly two weeks of aggressive raids in the Southland, sparking widespread protests and aggressive reaction from both LAPD and Los Angeles County Sheriffs. Dodgers players remained largely mum on the issue, until veteran utilityman Kike Hernandez released a statement on Instagram pledging support for Latinos profiled, arrested and disappeared under ICE. Manager Dave Roberts professed not having enough information to weigh in on the issue, though the franchise came under more scrutiny for its lack of support after R&B singer Nezza sang the national anthem in Spanish at Dodger Stadium, and posted videos and correspondence showing it was against the Dodgers' wishes. That led to a Dodgers spokesperson telling reporters Wednesday that they would announce "plans for assistance to immigrant communities impacted by the recent events in Los Angeles." Barely 12 hours later, ICE vehicles showed up at the stadium gates. The Dodgers' fan base is heavily Latino, and in the past week right-wing influencers have entered the fray, with one noting that it would be "amazing" if ICE agents staged a raid at Dodger Stadium. The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news -- fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.
The Independent
21 minutes ago
- The Independent
Israel-Iran latest: Trump to decide on US action over conflict within two weeks, White House says
US president Donald Trump has said he will make a decision on whether to strike Iranian nuclear facilities within the next two weeks. Mr Trump said he would make the call on whether to order US warplanes to strike Iranian nuclear sites depending on whether Tehran engages in talks over ending its nuclear weapons programme. '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,' he said. It comes after Israel 's defence minister Israel Katz vowed that Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei 'cannot continue to exist' said after the latest wave of Iranian missiles struck an Israeli hospital. Mr Katz said the military "has been instructed and knows that in order to achieve all of its goals, this man absolutely should not continue to exist". US officials said this week that Mr Trump had vetoed an Israeli plan to kill Mr Khamenei. Iran held direct talks with US after Israeli strikes US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araqchi have spoken by phone several times since Israel began its strikes on Iran last week, in a bid to find a diplomatic end to the crisis. Three diplomats told Reuters that Mr Araqchi said Tehran would not return to negotiations unless Israel stopped the attacks, which began last Friday. They said the talks included a brief discussion of a US proposal given to Iran at the end of May that aims to create a regional consortium that would enrich uranium outside of Iran, an offer Tehran has so far rejected. A regional diplomat close to Tehran said Mr Araqchi had told Mr Witkoff that Tehran "could show flexibility in the nuclear issue" if Washington pressured Israel to end the war. A European diplomat said: "Araqchi told Witkoff Iran was ready to come back to nuclear talks, but it could not if Israel continued its bombing." Mr Araghchi was due today in Geneva to negotiate with European diplomats, the country's first face-to-face talks in the crisis. Alisha Rahaman Sarkar20 June 2025 04:08 Israeli airstrikes reach city of Rasht Israeli airstrikes reached the city of Rasht in Northern Iran, according to the Associated Press. It's unclear what the Israeli military is targeting in the city, the AP reports. Katie Hawkinson20 June 2025 03:03 Trump relying on small group of advisers for Iran strategy: report President Donald Trump is increasingly relying on a small group of advisers to decide whether or not to strike Iran, NBC News reports. He's also crowdsourcing opinions from various allies who don't have formal positions in his administration, according to the outlet. Earlier today, the president said he would make the call on whether to order US warplanes to strike Iranian nuclear sites depending on whether Tehran engages in talks over ending its nuclear weapons program. 'I will make my decision whether or not to go within the next two weeks,' he said. Katie Hawkinson20 June 2025 02:01 IDF intercepts Iranian drone: report The Israeli military intercepted an Iranian drone over the Dead Sea, according to a report from The Guardian. Katie Hawkinson20 June 2025 01:21 Iran says Israel struck industrial complex in north Iranian state media said Israeli strikes hit an industrial complex in the Sefid-Rud area in Northern Iran, The New York Times reports. State media also reported strikes around Rasht, a city in northern Iran. 20 June 2025 01:10 Netanyahu faces backlash for describing 'personal cost' of war Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is facing backlash after describing the 'personal cost' his family has paid for the war. 'There are people who were killed, families who grieved loved ones, I really appreciate that,' he said in a television interview at the site of a hospital destroyed by an Iranian missile strike. 'Each of us bears a personal cost, and my family has not been exempt,' he added. 'This is the second time that my son Avner, due to missile threats and rocket fire, has cancelled a wedding. It is a personal cost for his fiancee as well, and I must say that my dear wife is a hero, and she bears a personal cost.' Knesset member Gilad Kariv called the prime minister a 'narcissist' following his remarks. 'I know many families who were not forced to postpone a wedding, but who will now never celebrate the weddings that were once meant to take place,' the lawmaker said, according to The Guardian. Yehuda Cohen, whose son is being held hostage in Gaza, also criticized Netanyahu's remarks, according to The New York Times. He said his son 'can't breathe, he can't see daylight and has been in danger of death for more than 20 months.' Katie Hawkinson20 June 2025 00:30 German chancellor urges Israel to use restraint: report German Chancellor Friedrich Merz privately urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to use restraint in the campaign against Iran, according to reports from The Wall Street Journal and Reuters. The German chancellor said he supports Israel's attacks on Iran's nuclear facilities while emphasizing the importance of a diplomatic solution, according to Reuters. Katie Hawkinson20 June 2025 00:10 Lammy calls for de-escalation over Iran-Israel conflict The Foreign Secretary said he will join European leaders in Geneva on Friday for talks with the Iranian foreign minister as the UK continues to call for de-escalation over the Iran-Israel conflict. David Lammy met US Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the White House on Thursday and said they discussed a deal to find a diplomatic solution. Mr Lammy said: 'The situation in the Middle East remains perilous. We are determined that Iran must never have a nuclear weapon. 'Meeting with Secretary of State Rubio and special envoy to the Middle East Witkoff in the White House today, we discussed how a deal could avoid a deepening conflict. 'A window now exists within the next two weeks to achieve a diplomatic solution. 'Tomorrow, I will be heading to Geneva to meet with the Iranian foreign minister alongside my French, German and EU counterparts. 'Now is the time to put a stop to the grave scenes in the Middle East and prevent a regional escalation that would benefit no one.' 19 June 2025 23:45 White House: Trump to decide on Iran action 'within two weeks' Alexander Butler19 June 2025 23:30 Ukrainians who fled from war to Israel facing new conflict 'I don't stop seeing dreams that I'm hiding somewhere, running from Shahed drones, bombs, and looking for shelter somewhere,' said a Ukrainian woman whose new life has been shattered: Jane Dalton19 June 2025 22:45
The Independent
33 minutes ago
- The Independent
‘Black history is American history': Biden commemorates Juneteenth in Texas as Trump claims there are ‘too many' holidays in the U.S.
Biden spoke at a Juneteenth celebration inside Galveston's Reedy Chapel on Thursday evening. His speech comes one month after his prostate cancer diagnosis. Juneteenth, which Biden designated as a federal holiday in 2021, commemorates the end of slavery in the U.S. The holiday is celebrated on June 19, the day in 1865 when the end of slavery was enforced in Texas, more than two years after Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation. 'Juneteenth is a day of liberation, a day of remembrance, a day of celebration,' Biden told the congregation. 'Black history is American history,' he added. Trump did not acknowledge the holiday, but he did make a post on Truth Social complaining that the U.S. has 'too many non-working holidays.' 'It is costing our Country $BILLIONS OF DOLLARS to keep all of these businesses closed,' Trump wrote. 'The workers don't want it either! Soon we'll end up having a holiday for every once working day of the year. It must change if we are going to, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!' Biden used his speech to hit out at those who claim Juneteenth shouldn't be a federal holiday. 'Some say to me and to you that this doesn't deserve to be a federal holiday,' Biden said Thursday night. 'They don't want to remember, but we all remember, the moral stain of slavery.' "I took the view as president that we need to be honest about history, especially in the face of ongoing efforts to erase our history,' he added. Biden then appeared to allude to Trump, telling the congregation it's 'not just him' before pausing and raising his eyebrows. The room erupted into cheers and laughter as Biden did the sign of the cross before continuing. Biden went on to tell the congregation he 'played a role' in renaming military camps across the country that were named after Confederate leaders. 'But what are we doing now? Reinstating those names,' Biden said. The Trump administration recently reverted the names of several bases that were changed under Biden. "We are also going to be restoring the names to Fort Pickett, Fort Hood, Fort Gordon, Fort Rucker, Fort Polk, Fort AP Hill and Fort Robert E. Lee," Trump said while speaking from Fort Bragg last week. Biden isn't the only one who appears to be criticizing Trump on Juneteenth. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries criticized Republicans in a statement Thursday, arguing they're making 'an intentional effort to turn back the clock and tear our country apart.' 'That struggle roars on, with President Trump and MAGA extremists banning books about Black history, dismantling diversity, equity and inclusion programs and trying to detonate the citizenship protections of the 14th Amendment,' Jeffries said.
